Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of countries that propose to apply for full membership of the European Union that have attained candidate status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1640/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are five countries that currently have candidate status and have applied to join the European Union: Turkey, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia, each of which is at a different stage in its relations with the EU:
Turkey has been a candidate since 1999 and is currently in accession negotiations with the European Union. Following the agreement reached in June under the Irish Presidency, a new chapter in Turkey’s accession negotiations was formally opened for the first time in three years at an inter-Governmental Conference in November. To date, some fourteen chapters have been opened in the negotiations.
Montenegro has been a candidate since 2010 and began accession negotiations in 2012. These negotiations are continuing, with seven negotiating chapters now opened, of which two have been provisionally closed. Two key chapters relating to the judiciary, fundamental rights and justice, freedom and security were opened last month .
Iceland is still officially a candidate for EU membership, although accession negotiations are currently on hold, following a decision of the Icelandic government last year.
Serbia has been a candidate since 2011 and is scheduled to open accession negotiations later this month with the European Union.
Macedonia has been a candidate since 2005 but has yet to start accession negotiations. In December, the General Affairs Council concluded:
“With a view to a possible decision of the European Council to open accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Council will revert to the issue in 2014, on the basis of an update by the Commission on further implementation of reforms in the context of the High Level Accession Dialogue, including the implementation of the 1 March political agreement and on tangible steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations and to reach a negotiated and mutually accepted solution to the name issue.”
Finally with regard to Albania, which applied to join the European Union in 2009 and is currently seeking candidate status, the General Affairs Council last December concluded that:
“on the understanding that Albania continues to build on the encouraging progress
made so far, the Council looks forward to a decision regarding granting candidate status to Albania in June 2014, subject to endorsement by the European Council.”
Neither Kosovo nor Bosnia Herzegovina has yet applied to join the European Union. However, both are on a path towards deeper relations with the EU. Kosovo is in negotiations with the EU on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). Bosnia has already negotiated an SAA with the EU, although this has yet to come into effect.
