Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:146 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his preferred options in regard to European enlargement and integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27056/03]
Written Answers. - European Enlargement.
The current phase of enlargement will see ten new members join the EU on 1 May 2004, during Ireland's EU Presidency. Negotiations are continuing with Bulgaria and Romania. The EU will decide on the next steps with regard to Turkey's candidature in the second half of 2004. Croatia has applied to join the EU and I expect the Commission's opinion on their application to be available in the spring of 2004. Other countries in the Western Balkans region have membership of the Union as their objective.
I fully support this process as the best possible guarantee of peace, stability and democracy for the future.
As the EU expands it also becomes increasingly important that it develops better and closer relations with those countries with whom it will share land and sea borders into the future. For this reason I fully support the Wider Europe –New Neighbours initiative which I would hope to see further developed under the Irish Presidency.
Question No. 147 answered with Question No. 38.