Bernard Durkan
Ceist:164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which European Union enlargement continues to progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9006/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 22 February 2017
Ceisteanna (164)
Freagraí scríofa
There are currently five countries which have EU Candidate Status: Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Turkey. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.
Ireland is a strong supporter of the enlargement process, and views it as a transformative driver for peace and stability in the region.
The European Commission continues to work actively to support prospective member states in implementing reforms in order to make progress on their respective EU paths. The Commission publishes regular reports on each of the candidate and potential candidate countries. These provide a ‘state of play’ assessment on the preparations for Union membership in each individual accession country across the acquis communautaire, highlight the remaining challenges and set out guidelines on key reform priorities.
Progress on recommendations is reviewed at EU Council level, as well as at regular working groups in Brussels. Ireland welcomed the 2016 reports, which were published on 9 November and discussed extensively by Ministers at the General Affairs Council in December 2016, at which Minister of State Dara Murphy represented Ireland. Presidency Conclusions on Enlargement were adopted by the Council.
Enlargement remains an important policy for the future stability and prosperity of the European Union and its neighbouring countries.