18 Ean 2012, 16:52
The European Union Affairs Committee, in joint session with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee, meets with Lord Paddy Ashdown, tomorrow morning Thursday 19 January to discuss the developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Western Balkans region.
EU Affairs Committee Vice-Chairman Paschal Donohoe TD says: “The Committee are looking forward to hearing Lord Ashdown's views on a region emerging from tragic recent history and whose nations are now striving to meet the necessary requirements of EU Membership.
“Enlargement undoubtedly stands as one of the European Union’s greatest achievements. Now standing at 27 Member States with a population of 500 million people, the Union believes that a gradual and carefully managed enlargement process creates a win-win situation for all countries concerned.”
“Lord Ashdown, who served as the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is in a unique position to brief both Committees on where Western Balkans countries’ progress on economic, political and social fronts.”
Within the region, Croatia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey are candidate countries, while Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo have all been promised the prospect of EU membership as and when they are ready.
The Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee Chairman Pat Breen TD says: “Our Committee warmly welcomes Lord Paddy Ashdown to Dublin. During the 1990s conflict in the Balkans, Lord Ashdown was one of the leading advocates for decisive action by the international community.
“He argued strongly that this would help bring the conflict to an early close, and that this was in the interests of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina whatever their ethnic background. We look forward to discussing with him developments in the Western Balkans since that time.
“Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement and, in general terms, would see greater integration with the EU as the best path for the countries of the Western Balkans. There has been significant progress in recent months and as Chair of Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade I welcome the recent significant breakthrough achieved in Bosnia and Herzegovina when the leaders of the six main political parties agreed on the formation of a state government and last week elected Mr Vjekoslav Bevanda as Prime Minister.”
“With regard to Serbia and to Kosovo, Ireland has supported Serbia’s EU candidate status. However, we are concerned about the recent violence in northern Kosovo which we must ensure does not block progress to improving relations between Belgrade and Pristina and over Serbia’s path of improving its relations with neighbouring states and aligning itself with EU values.\"
The meeting takes place tomorrow morning 19 January at 11:30 a.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee on European Union Affairs Membership
Deputies
Joe Costello, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Mick Wallace, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Michael McNamara, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.
“Enlargement undoubtedly stands as one of the European Union’s greatest achievements. Now standing at 27 Member States with a population of 500 million people, the Union believes that a gradual and carefully managed enlargement process creates a win-win situation for all countries concerned.”
“Lord Ashdown, who served as the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is in a unique position to brief both Committees on where Western Balkans countries’ progress on economic, political and social fronts.”
Within the region, Croatia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey are candidate countries, while Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo have all been promised the prospect of EU membership as and when they are ready.
The Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee Chairman Pat Breen TD says: “Our Committee warmly welcomes Lord Paddy Ashdown to Dublin. During the 1990s conflict in the Balkans, Lord Ashdown was one of the leading advocates for decisive action by the international community.
“He argued strongly that this would help bring the conflict to an early close, and that this was in the interests of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina whatever their ethnic background. We look forward to discussing with him developments in the Western Balkans since that time.
“Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement and, in general terms, would see greater integration with the EU as the best path for the countries of the Western Balkans. There has been significant progress in recent months and as Chair of Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade I welcome the recent significant breakthrough achieved in Bosnia and Herzegovina when the leaders of the six main political parties agreed on the formation of a state government and last week elected Mr Vjekoslav Bevanda as Prime Minister.”
“With regard to Serbia and to Kosovo, Ireland has supported Serbia’s EU candidate status. However, we are concerned about the recent violence in northern Kosovo which we must ensure does not block progress to improving relations between Belgrade and Pristina and over Serbia’s path of improving its relations with neighbouring states and aligning itself with EU values.\"
The meeting takes place tomorrow morning 19 January at 11:30 a.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://bit.ly/24YmPI
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee on European Union Affairs Membership
Deputies
Joe Costello, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Mick Wallace, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Michael McNamara, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.