Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 1

Written Answers. - Agenda 2000.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

11 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the timetable, if any, for EU membership for applicant countries and, particularly, for the accession of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19346/97]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The European Commission published its Agenda 2000 communication and its opinions on the applications for membership of the Union by the ten central and eastern European applicants in July. On the basis of its opinions, the Commission recommended that the Union open accession negotiations in the first instance with five of the ten central and eastern European applicants: Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, together with Cyprus, which already had the benefit of a positive opinion. The European Council, which is meeting in Luxembourg on 12-13 December, is to take the key decisions with regard to the management of the enlargement process, including as to the applicants with which the EU should open accession negotiations, the practical arrangements for the initial phase of negotiations and the reinforced pre-accession strategy. We would expect that accession negotiations will, in accordance with the conclusions of the Amsterdam European Council, open as soon as possible, after the Luxembourg European Council, in early 1998.

While none of the applicants fully satisfies all the criteria for accession at the present time, the Commission considers that Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia could be in a position to satisfy all the conditions of membership in the medium term. New members of the Union will be expected to apply and enforce theacquis communitaire upon accession and a process of screening of legislation by the Commission will, as a first step, identify the main problem areas for subsequent discussion. As the Commission has pointed out, the timing of the conclusion of the accession negotiations will depend primarily on the progress made by individual applicants in adopting and implementing the acquis. Given the complexity of the issues involved in the negotiations, and the varying degrees of preparation of the applicants, it is not possible to say when precisely the negotiations with any individual applicant will conclude.