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While European integration is ongoing, our continent still remains politically divided, with many countries remaining outside of the EU. There hasn’t been an EU enlargement since Croatia joined the Union in 2013, despite the progress made by several candidate and potential candidate countries to meet the membership criteria. This creates a divide between those who can enjoy the freedoms and opportunities the Union provides and those who are dependent on only limited forms of integration. While some countries put great effort into meeting the accession criteria, their EU integration has been arbitrarily blocked by individual member states, often based on narrowly-defined national interests or domestic pressure from nationalistic groups.
The EU must remain an open project, commiting to a continuous enlargement process based on transparent accession criteria, including the respect for the Union’s fundamental values. Following the evaluation of these criteria made by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council should be able to co-decide on the accession of new member states based on qualified majority voting. No single member state should be able to block the accession of a candidate country.
The integration of the Western Balkan countries should be prioritised to ensure peace and stability in the region. Subsequently, other European countries meeting the accession criteria should be invited to join the Union in order to unite the continent.
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Absolutely yes. We must not fail the Western Balkans again.
The problem is that they keep failing themselves because of the fragmentation which the West did to them a century ago.
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"reaffirming the European perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans. ":
Montenegro asks for financial help as half of it's debt now owed to China. Turned down. Therefore China is (going to be) entitled to own Montenegrin land in return. Indeed how reaffirming and prostective this is for all member states, especially neighbouring ones.
Ist das schon definitv abgeleht? Falls nicht, sollten wir uns hier dagegen stemmen. Denn auch wenn es natürlich grundsätzlich nicht gut ist, wenn die EU für einen Fehler Montenegros geradesteht, wäre es viel schlimmer, einen Zwnagsvasseln Chinas hier zu haben.
Agreed. Montenegro is a pro-European country that has made fantastic progress. They should be welcomed into Europe.
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At the moment the EU seems to be in a bind due to the large numbers of member countries. Many important projects need a unified voice, making it easy for a country to threaten a veto just to negotiate more investment.
Enlargement is premature, until these basic issues are open.
The proposal already mentions enlargement decisions being made via the co-decision of the European Parliament and the Council, so we can assume the veto problem in general is solved in the meantime, hopefully following this Conference on the Future of Europe.
Also, some other proposals on the platform address the issue of the 'veto dictatorship', you may want to check them out:
A more democratic & effective EU: Stronger European Parliament
Stronger together: A democratic European Federation
What you are referring to is that the accession decision can be made by Parliament and Council.
What I am criticizing is the time after that. We will have a larger union, where more countries negotiate by threatening a veto in decisions requiring unanimity.
Thank you for the links. But even with them, this point surely plays a role in the discussion about enlargement as well.
D'accord pour intégrer les Balkans mais certainement pas pour un processus ouvert et continu d'élargissement. L'Europe géopolitique doit décider de ses frontières, aujourd'hui, et définir les relations avec ses voisins (c'est l'objet de la politique de voisinage). Le schéma des années 2000 n'est plus actuel car nous avons de vrais défis en interne (illibéralisme dans certains Etats membres) et en externe (Russie, Turquie) à nos frontières. Il est grand temps de déterminer nos intérêts stratégiques, avant qu'ils soient détruits par certains voisins, et de les défendre.
D'accord pour intégrer les Balkans mais certainement pas pour un processus ouvert et continu d'élargissement. L'Europe géopolitique doit décider de ses frontières, aujourd'hui, et définir les relations avec ses voisins (c'est l'objet de la politique de voisinage). Le schéma des années 2000 n'est plus actuel car nous avons de vrais défis en interne (illibéralisme dans certains Etats membres) et en externe (Russie, Turquie) à nos frontières. Il est grand temps de déterminer nos intérêts stratégiques, avant qu'ils soient détruits par certains voisins, et de les défendre.
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In my many years as member of the European Parliament I fought for well prepared enlargement. An I continue to do so with a group of young experts from the Western Balkans. (see iipvienna.com ) But enlargement will need a lot of time. EU should be ready for a step by step integration process by involving our neighbors depending on their progress of reforms already before formal membership. We should not let the younger generation wait to long. Other forces will prevail if the disappointment is too big with the EU promising but not delivering.
Thank you for your service.
You are against enlargement because it takes a lot of time. If you still think is it the right way forward though, surely you would try to make processes more efficient before just dropping your goal. What has been tried in this respect?
To your second point regarding the disappointment of third countries. As the EU: don't promise something you can't hold then. You can't just promise someone something, and use the possible disappointment of that person to convince your citizens that what you promised must be done. Surely you have to think what is right first, and then do it reliably.
Is there an idea for a step by step integration process on this platform?
Would this be related to Multi-speed Europe?
There is no defined and specific procedure. One could start with involving the countries directly in formulations and implementing the migration policy, the fight against transborder crime, the fight against the pandemic, in research and development especially the digital economy, environment issues. Important would be to involve representatives from the Western Balkan countries already in the design of policies ( even without full voting rights ) and in the implementation. This means also participation in relevant Council meetings etc.
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I agree that we need to continue the enlargement of the EU, but I think that this goes hand in hand with a multi-speed Europe. The argument that welcoming new countries will make reforms even more difficult is true, which is why we must continue to enlarge the EU, AND create a more integrated structure within the EU with the countries that want it.
..which would not solve the problems of reforming the large EU, right?
There were viable political reasons for all the enlargement rounds so far. But they all made further integration more complicated if not impossible. We need to put the house in order first (a sharp instrument to ensure MS adhere to the rule of law and our values; qM decisions in all areas still under unanimity; enhanced competences in CFSP and CSDP etc) before the next round of enlargements. That might seem unfair to candidate countries, but it will serve them in the long run when they finally join a Union capable of delivering on its promises.
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We should focus on Norway and Iceland first, imo
Norway and Iceland do not want to join - not now anyway. And we should help the people of the Western Balkans who want to join - even their politicians do not enough to crate the necessary conditions.
Throw in a massive effort to persuade Faeroe Islands and Greenland to (re)join too at the same time by making the Common Fisheries Policy more attractive. They're part of Denmark but not (fully) of EU so the process will not be as hard.
Certainly ! However we have to settle the border question ie allowing refenrenda in the Northern part of Kosovo, in the Serbian feeling populated area in Montenegro ( based on the results of the 2006 referendum) in the Presevo Valley, in the two greek villages in Albania, in the Serbian Republic of Bosnia, in the croatian populated part of Bosnia and in Southern Kosovo.
If we don't do this, eu integration will be jeopardized by ressentment and national identities. On the other hand, the organisation by the EU of such referenda will bound together european belonging and national ones.
Biztos, hogy az európai országok EU-ba csatolásával párhuzamosan gondolni kell a balkáni államok csatlakozására is. Azonban ezt jobban átgondoltabban kell tenni, mint a nagy számú csatlakozások során tette az EU. A tagállamok 28-ra bővítése felhigította az EU egységét, olyan problémák jöttek felszínre, amit az "Alapító Atyák" által elképzelt és az Alapokmányba foglalt alapelvek nem tudtak kezelni.
Ha idő előtt folytatódik a bővítés, a csatlakozó országok magukkal hozzák a megoldatlan problémáikat, amelyek súlyos pénzügyi, politikai és szervezeti súlyokat helyeznek a tagállamok és maga az EU számára. Külön gondot jelent Törökország Eu-ba történő csatlakozási, főleg a jelenlegi vezetéssel és a megoldatlan migrációs válsággal.
What is necessary is a permanent dialogue also with the citizens of enlargement countries. The EU should not only address the governments. And together with them the EU must ask for the necessary reforms. Let us hope for example that after the elections in ALBANIA the reform process will continue and that the tensions between government and opposition will not prevent a constructive cooperation concerning the EU aspirations.
so sehr ich spontan zustimme, und mir auch eine europäische Konsolodierung wünsche - die EU muss jetzt erstmal ihre Hausaufgaben machen... bestehende Mitgliedsländer wie Ungarn oder Polen müssen erstmal wieder .... europäisch integriert werden. und auch wir - also in meinem Fall Deutschland - müssen einige weitere Schritte hin zu einer Europäischen Integration machen. Art. 23 GG sollte uns dabei Ziel sein. Dann ist auch für die Beitrittskandidaten klar, welcher EU sie zugehörig sein wollen...
totally agree
Generally, I support this idea but I do believe the EU needs to undergo significant reform before enlargement can happen. The existing mechanisms and structures in the EU clearly come to their limit with the current amount of members already and the EU is often being accused of not being able to act appropriately. Hopefully, the Conference on the Future of Europe will lead to changes to make the EU fit for the future and for additional member states but until these changes haven't been implemented yet I do not believe accepting further member states under the "old" conditions would make much sense.
Well I think, it is not primarily a question of numbers but of clear positions the EU must stick too. But of course with bigger numbers the chance of deviating member governments is rising. Anyway we should not see the enlargement as one step after long negotiations but as a process of step by step transition and coming closer to EU membership. So there is time for mutual experience and knowing each other.
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While I am fundamentally supportive of further EU enlargement I am convinced that further enlargement without previous reform will be a disservice to all pro-europeans. Already now the EU is hobbled by competing national interests with Veto power in the European Council.
If we want the EU to be successful we need to put reform before enlargement.
Reform the EU itself and also the West Balkans too. I really can't see the way forward with all that fragmentation. After all, part of the nationalist sentiment in some Eastern European states is the unfulfilled national interest from the last two centuries. As such, borders on the Balkans should align with self-identity borders in order to guarantee long-term stability of the region.
Ich stimme zu! Wir müssen auch die Länder im Westbalkan aufnehmen und unterstützen, um den Frieden und Sicherheit im Südosten Europas zu sichern. Neben dem, halte ich es für enorm wichtig, um eine internationale Politik in Bezug auf Klimawandel, Digitalisierung etc. gerecht zu betreiben.
Je préférerais que les règles de fonctionnement de l' U.E. soient revues , via référendum, pour mettre sur pied une organisation fédérale à l'image des USA. il faut que l'EU ne soit plus un nain politique. Et ensuite seulement, j'accepterais d'accueillir les nouveaux pays d'Europe qui doivent avoir leur place au sein de l'U. E.
Kyllä. EU:n tulee laajentua. Mukaan saavat liittyä kaikki halukkaat eurooppalaiset demokratiat jotka täyttävät jäsenyysehdot. Jäsenyydestä pitäisi lopullisesti päättää äänestämällä ilman veto-oikeuksia.
I believe before we can welcome any new members, we need to sort out the issue of authoritarianism within the EU. We are in the current predicament of EU members like Poland or Hungary moving further and further away from the rule of law because there are currently no rules in place that require/force member states to honour democratic values. Those kinds of rules need to be in place before we can allow new members into the EU.
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L'élargissement de l'Europe ne peut que l'affaiblir. Il y a déjà une claire dichotomie entre les pays fondateurs et la plupart des derniers entrés d'Europe de l'Est. L'intégration ne s'est toujours pas faite. Ces derniers pays semblent ne chercher que soutiens et non adhésion et intégration. Les Anglais qui n'étaient entrés qu'à reculons et qui n'ont jamais souhaité une Europe forte, indépendante des USA avant bien compris que l'adhésion des pays de l'Est allait affaiblir politiquement l'Europe, d'où leur ardeur à défendre leur entrée. Il suffit également de remonter en arrière de quelques années pour se rappeler là encore la ferveur de l'Angleterre et des USA à voir la Turquie rejoindre l'UE....
Alors, organisons d'abord un véritable Fédération entre membres fondateurs et laissons le temps au temps pour un élargissement supplémentaire. Ce n'est qu'avec une fédération efficace que nous saurons faire entendre notre voix dans le Monde.
Entirely agree. The veto allows a single voice with local political interests to block the entire EU. Build a solid federation with appropriate rules and policy. It will be more effective and will also push forward the whole EU.
Totalement avec vous, il vaut mieux un ensemble qui soit plus petit, mais avec un système cohérent plutôt qu'un gros machin qui ne fonctionne pas.
C'est d'ailleurs l'une des raisons de la chute de la Chine en tant que grande puissance vers la fin du 19ème siècle. Une grosse administration corrompue et incapable de mener les réformes nécessaires.
Laissons le temps au temps et perfectionnons le système avant tout.
Ici vous pouvez trouver quelques unes de mes propositions : (The end of European tax-havens., European minimal corporate tax)
I think the EU should really fix the fragmentation which the Great Powers created on the Balkans many years ago. I think Balkan people are more than capable of respecting their neighbours but just not when it's one of them who lives in the neighbouring country. There is nothing wrong with ethnically aligned state borders, otherwise we Europe risks another more Irish and Belgian scenarios, but Balkan style.
Strong no.
The European-Union as it is is doomed to disappear and if it's not working at 27, it will not work at 30.
Let's first make the EU into something coherent without social and fiscal dumping (see my proposition to end European tax havens The end of European tax-havens., European minimal corporate tax).
The race to the bottom in terms of social benefits and fiscality while hospitals, schools, police and research labs face austerity is almost unbearable.
Especially since the countries that benefited the most from the open market and outsourcing like Poland or Hungary became hostiles to the European project.
The French and Italian industries have been outsourcing massively to Poland and Hungary to the frustration of local workers.
Let's not fall into the same trap twice.
And let's not even speak about the unanimity vote that paralyzes the EU from implementing courageous reforms.
I would say yes, but FIRST, we need to solve the major issue of the unilateral veto about whatever reform the institutions are trying to implement. A strong majority should be the common rule.
Es imprescindible seguir creciendo para ser más fuertes. Europa tiene una deuda histórica con los Balcanes, y como han señalado algunos compañeros, algunos países ya están preparados para unirse. A medio o largo plazo, habría que plantearse la inclusión del Cáucaso en el proceso de integración.
Lo que quiero plantear es esto: ¿Debemos esperar a que los países candidatos hagan avances significativos para aceptar su candidatura, o al revés, debemos integrarlos ya para ayudarlos a acometer las acciones necesarias? Creo que ésta es la cuestión más relevante, y que la opción correcta es la segunda. Rumanía es el ejemplo perfecto. Desde que accedieron a la UE en 2007 se ha producido un milagro económico y la población es más madura políticamente.
I don't know. Perhaps Muslim majority countries should have their own Union: Turkey, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo... etc. They have a common culture and values we do not share. Countries like Montenegro and North Macedonia could be considered but expansion for the sake of expansion I do not think it is a good idea.
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