Bernard Allen
Ceist:6 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being made by Romania to secure entry into the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30018/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 24 November 2004
Ceisteanna (6)
Freagraí ó Béal (7 píosaí cainte)
The European Union's objective, as stated in the European Council conclusions of 17-18 June 2004, is that both Romania and Bulgaria should conclude negotiations in 2004, sign the accession treaty as early as possible in 2005 and accede in January 2007, if they are ready. Negotiations will be concluded on the same basis and principles which applied to the ten new member states which acceded on 1 May 2004.
On 6 October 2004, the European Commission published its annual report on progress towards the EU accession of Romania, as well as an overall strategy paper on progress in the enlargement process. The Commission makes clear in its report that Romania has made good progress this year in its preparations for EU accession. Romania has three negotiating chapters to complete.
The formal conclusion of negotiations with both Romania and Bulgaria is on the agenda of the European Council in December and the Council should be in a position to take a positive decision.
The response given is similar to that given in October and I accept the assurances that everything is moving according to schedule, the negotiations will finish in December, the accession treaty will be signed next year and accession take place in 2007. Will the negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania conclude before negotiations open with Turkey?
The Council report mentioned by the Minister of State expresses serious reservations about three issues — the ability of the anti-corruption laws to deal with widespread corruption inRomania, the independence of the judiciary from the executive and the ability of the media to act as an independent voice for the people. In what respect have these reservations been addressed by the Romanian authorities in the most recent negotiations?
Decoupling Bulgaria from Romania does not arise.
No one mentioned decoupling.
The drafting of a common accession treaty, which began in July, is already at an advanced stage. As the Commission reports make clear, both countries are on track to sign the treaty early next year. Bulgaria and Romania are being dealt with together and we are optimistic that there will be positive progress.
Justice and home affairs issues have been one of the most sensitive areas of accession negotiations with all of the countries involved in the enlargement process and the final negotiations with Romania on these issues are very important. Ireland, the other member states and the Commission, which has a lead role in the negotiations, will ensure that Romania delivers on the commitments needed for EU membership and is supported in its efforts to do so.
The Helsinki European Council in December 1999 decided that Turkey is a candidate country destined to join the European Union on the basis of the same criteria applied to other candidate states. The Copenhagen European Council in December 2002 made the clear commitment that the European Council meeting in December 2004 will decide——
With due respect, I know all of that already. I asked if negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania will conclude before the opening negotiations with Turkey. My specific questions were about the ability of the anti-corruption laws to deal with widespread corruption, the independence of the media and the reservations in the Council report about the independence of the judiciary. Those were the three major reservations in the report to which the Minister of State referred and I would like to know what progress has been made since October on these three core issues.
Progress has been made. Decisions have been taken in Romania that will make progress in the judicial situation and the situation in the media has been greatly improved. Negotiations are moving forward.
The Deputy asked if negotiations will conclude with Bulgaria and Romania before negotiations open with Turkey. They have until 2007 and it is expected that they should be able to join by then. It will be a matter for the European Council in December to decide whether negotiations will be opened with Turkey and when, in the event. I cannot say whether that will be before the conclusion of negotiations with the other two accession countries. However, I would surmise they might be conducted in parallel or perhaps negotiations with the first two might have concluded before talks with Turkey begin. That will depend on the progress reported to the European Council meeting on 17 and 18 December. These reports will be made available and then the Council will take a decision based on the facts before it and the recommendations being made to it.