EU Urged to Accelerate Enlargement Process, Says von der Leyen at Balkans Summit
Balkans summit: EU must pick up pace of enlargement negotiations, says von der Leyen
Image: The Irish Times
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for the EU to expedite its enlargement negotiations with candidate countries during a summit in Tivat, Montenegro. She stated that the process must be merit-based, allowing countries that implement reforms to progress towards membership more swiftly.
- 01Ursula von der Leyen called for a faster and more credible EU enlargement process, emphasizing merit-based progression.
- 02Montenegro aims to close its accession negotiations and become the EU's 28th member by 2028.
- 03The Franco-German proposal suggests integrating candidate countries into EU decision-making as observers to facilitate their accession.
- 04Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama advocates for a bold approach to integration, reminiscent of Germany's reunification.
- 05Croatia was the last country to join the EU in 2013, highlighting a significant gap in enlargement since then.
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During a summit in Tivat, Montenegro, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the European Union to accelerate its enlargement negotiations with candidate countries, describing it as a geopolitical necessity. She stressed that the enlargement process should be merit-based, allowing countries that successfully implement reforms to advance more quickly towards membership. Montenegro, which aims to become the EU's 28th member by 2028, is viewed as a test case for the EU's commitment to enlargement. The French and German governments proposed a plan to involve candidate countries in EU meetings as observers, thereby integrating them gradually into the EU decision-making process. Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama echoed the need for a decisive moment in the enlargement process, referencing the reunification of Germany as a model for how the EU should approach integration. The last country to join the EU was Croatia in 2013, indicating a significant hiatus in the enlargement process.
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Accelerating the EU enlargement process could lead to significant political and economic changes in the Balkans.
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