Yesterday the European Commission presented its annual enlargement reports, which was also an opportunity to look into the many mishaps of the process.
These days, the war in Ukraine could possibly lead to an acceleration of history – and speed up the enlargement process.
Countries in the Western Balkans have been in the EU “waiting room” far too long. And they are no better off today than they were in 2003 when the Thessaloniki summit stressed their “European perspective”.
Quite the contrary, these countries are increasingly disappointed, and anti-EU narratives find fertile ground in their societies.
I have seen the acceleration of history after the 1999 NATO war in Kosovo.
Bulgaria and Romania, at that time the only candidates to join NATO and the EU, gave their airspace to the alliance, a courageous move which ultimately secured them a seat in both clubs (NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007), although strictly speaking, neither of the two countries met the membership criteria.
I would invite those who argue that criteria are sacrosanct to use their imagination and try to picture what Bulgaria would be like today had it not joined NATO and the EU. For certain, it would have become a Russian colony.
Wars are despicable, but they often are a catalyst for political integration.
The war in Ukraine already produced a decision that would have been impossible before 24 February – it gave candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova and promised the same to Georgia as soon as Georgians resolve their in-fighting.
In such a context, the Commission’s new proposal to grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina seems logical. Without the war in Ukraine, Bosnia could hardly expect such encouragement.
It is mind-boggling that when Russia is trying to enlarge its territory by waging wars, countries that want to join the EU must pass insurmountable hurdles. In light of the war in Ukraine, it is clear that those hurdles only serve Russia.
We often hear comparisons between the Soviet Empire and Putin’s Russia, in the sense that we are in another Cold War, possibly worse than the first version.
Clearly, it is worse because the Soviet empire built walls to prevent its citizens from leaving, while Putin’s doctrine says Russia has no borders. This we should perceive as a direct threat.
If Putin’s war in Ukraine had been successful for him and had achieved his goals in a matter of days, the Russian army would have marched into Moldova and Georgia and then into the Central Asian countries. Who could have stopped them?
Thank god the Ukrainians did.
The EU has many deficiencies, and we journalists make a living from criticising its shortcomings. But let’s admit it: The EU remains hugely attractive for several countries in our neighbourhood, a historic blessing we irresponsibly ignore. And we still keep these countries in the grey zone which in turn is an offering to Putin.
We may blame many things on the Brits, but Tony Blair pushed hard for Bulgaria and Romania’s membership in the EU after the 1999 war. I wish there was similar leadership today – but we have what we have.
Today Bulgaria and Romania are not even members of the Schengen passport-free area because up to now, there was always an EU member to say no, invoking the “criteria” – which was really nothing else but an excuse to slow down Europe and keep it small and internally divided.
But the winds are already changing. Maybe history will accelerate them.
The Roundup
Uber Files whistleblower Mark MacGann is due to speak at a hearing of the European Parliament alongside Uber Director of EU Public Policy Zuzana Púčiková, leaving him “unprotected,” according to a letter obtained by EURACTIV.
EU lawmakers have selected the finalists for the 2022 Sakharov Prize, a European Parliament award celebrating defenders of human rights and freedom of thought.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday that Turkey was the most reliable route to deliver gas to the European Union and proposed to build what he called a ‘supply hub’ there.
Russia’s biggest air strikes against Ukraine since the start of the war killed at least 19 people, drove thousands of Ukrainians back into air raid shelters and knocked out electricity in hundreds of towns and villages.
Check out EURACTIV’s new weekly policy brief, EU Politics Decoded: Discourse has moved to the left, but socialists keep on losing.
Cities that engage with citizens and put them at the centre of their climate policies report better outcomes for public health, social integration, the economy, and the environment, according to a new report by CDP released on Thursday.
The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted its report on the secure connectivity programme for 2023-2027 on Thursday.
The German cabinet approved Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir’s bill for a mandatory animal welfare label on Wednesday, but the opposition and farming associations warn of inconsistencies within the EU single market.
Look out for…
- Informal meeting of Eurogroup ministers and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
- Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans meets with Robert Habeck, German federal minister for economic affairs and climate action.
- Financial Stability Commissioner Mairead McGuinness meets with US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Views are the author’s.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic/Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
