The most recent developments occurring in the vast zone stretching from the east of the EU, including Russia, are further reasons why I focused this column last week on the situation in this region and its perspectives. These developments require further examination.
Ukraine's accession takes a bow. The most spectacular development has obviously been the tough prison sentence meted out on Ukraine's former prime minister, Ms Tymoshenko, which only evidence of treason or corruption could justify. Two days ago, our publication provided a report on the events and responses to it. It also emphasised that the extremely harsh criticism, levelled by the current Ukrainian government against the way in which Ms Tymoshenko had negotiated the price of imported oil with Moscow, warranted a political judgment by parliament and the voters, and not a ruling by the court. This has resulted in negotiations being suspended on the EU-Ukrainian association and free trade agreements. The crisis will be overcome but the possibility of accession has disappeared. Talk of this accession was in any case on the lips of more people in Warsaw than in Kiev because a large section of the Ukrainian people has never supported it and links with Russia are much more of a priority for them.
This is therefore the first case where the possibility of accession has vanished due exclusively to domestic events. But it obviously leaves the way open towards free trade and cooperation as soon as possible. It should also be added that in a few months' time, Poland and Ukraine will be jointly organising the European football championship.
Future or current candidates. The comments above are also valid for other countries in the Eastern Partnership, with which new difficulties have come to the fore, like Belarus and Azerbaijan.
What is more, the road to further accession encounters a lot of other obstacles too with countries whose European character is obvious and for which the decision in principle has already been taken. The European Commission has already examined this question and our publication yesterday and the day before discussed this matter. A few candidates are making progress towards negotiations or towards the possibility of opening negotiations, whilst other countries have no chance of doing this at all. The case of Turkey appears increasingly artificial. The Commission has pointed out that the negotiations have been blocked for more than a year and it has advocated “a more constructive relationship, based on concrete measures in domains of common interest”. The Commission is moreover already tackling a subject of primary interest - that of visas.
Slovak misgivings. The specific problem of Slovakia is also instructive with regard to future accessions, even though it was resolved yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. I would like to recall that in the context of management of the single currency, the national parliament of Slovakia had not approved the giving of the European rescue funds, the strengthened EFSF, and was blocking its entry into force. This obstacle has just been overcome in a second round of voting. What I would like to underline, however, is the reason that led part of the parliamentary majority to vote against this rescue fund. It considered that a small country whose financial resources are very modest should not be asked to help bail out other countries that do not respect their commitments. We can see that this is a question of principle. Nonetheless, Slovakia is very fortunate to have benefited from the European structural funds and is calling for an increased contribution from the common agricultural policy. I have to ask myself whether the majority of Eastern Partnership countries that have the possibility of joining the EU have a political and psychological attitude that is the same - seeking support and assistance from the EU without taking into consideration the obligation of having to make a contribution to solidarity instruments when necessary, to help current and future member states.
Polish attitude is positive. My misgivings regarding EU accession for Eastern Partnership countries do not conceal any criticism directed towards Poland which, on the contrary, represents one of the most startling success stories of European construction. A certain distrust existed in the beginning among farmers and the church, and like everywhere an anti-European tendency persists, headed by Mr Kaczynski. Nonetheless, the brilliant personality of Bronislaw Geremek has largely won out and last Sunday's elections confirmed what side the majority of the population are on. Mr Tusk was able to unite a variety of different political tendencies and convictions but all of these had European construction as a strong political, cultural and emotional point in common.
Pressure on Eastern Partnership countries has helped them make progress towards democracy, peace, conflict resolution and economic success. This is positive for these countries, the EU and for the world at large. Nonetheless, let's leave out the possibility of further accessions because this would water down European construction.
(FR/transl.fl)