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Parliamentary question - E-000973/2016Parliamentary question
E-000973/2016

Dutch Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Question for written answer E-000973-16
to the Council
Rule 130
Aymeric Chauprade (NI)

At a Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders, said that the Dutch Presidency’s priorities would centre on enlargement, in particular to include Turkey and the Balkan States, since enlargement was still one of the most successful means of promoting human rights and democracy. The EU thus needed to be ready to welcome new Member States, including one of its most important partners, Turkey. Turkey’s accession therefore needed to be managed effectively so as to help it on its path to EU membership.

Does the Council really think that EU membership for Turkey and other states such as Kosovo, which harbour large numbers of Islamic State sympathisers, is a priority for the European Union?