EU: Membership

House of Lords written question – answered at on 6 April 2011.

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Photo of Lord Kennedy of Southwark Lord Kennedy of Southwark Labour

To ask Her Majesty's Government what stage each applicant country has reached in their negotiations for entry to the European Union.

Photo of Lord Howell of Guildford Lord Howell of Guildford Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (International Energy Policy)

Currently accession negotiations are underway with the candidate countries Croatia, Turkey and Iceland. Croatia has opened 34 (out of 35) and has closed 28 chapters of its accession negotiations. Turkey has opened 13 chapters of its negotiations and closed one. Iceland is in the early stages of its accession process and is undergoing the screening process. The Commission has recommended opening accession negotiations with candidate country Macedonia but the council has not yet taken a decision on this. In November 2010 the Commission gave its opinion on Montenegro and Albania's membership applications. The Commission recommended that Montenegro be granted candidate status-this was approved by the European Council in December 2010-and set seven key reform priorities for it to meet before it can open accession negotiations. The Commission also set 12 key reform priorities for Albania to meet before the Commission can give an opinion on candidate status and opening of accession negotiations. Serbia's application was referred by the Council to the Commission for its opinion in October 2010.

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