Riga, 21/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 20 May, 95 MEPs called on the European leaders to send a positive signal with regard to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova about these countries' future EU membership. However, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has rendered these hopes vain in the short term.
“The European aspirations of these countries require a more ambitious response”, the MEPs from different parties and member states say in an open letter. “Consequently, in line with the provisions of Article 49 of the Treaty of the European Union [which states that any European state that respects the European values can apply for accession], we believe that the European Union should send a positive signal with regard to these countries' future membership in the European Union”, the MEPs write. In their view, opening the perspective of such membership “would represent a significant incentive to further democratic reforms, as well as sending an appropriate and powerful signal in the currently strained geopolitical situation”. The MEPs' expectations have little chance of being met, however.
Statement far short of referring to Article 49. Once again, the wording of the European aspirations of certain partner countries is an important point - as well as one of disagreement - in the final statement from the Eastern Partnership summit. While some member states want a clear expression of possible membership, others reject this.
In the latest final draft statement approved by the 28 EU member states, which still has to be approved by the partner countries, there is no question of enlargement. The EU28 reportedly agreed on reiterating the wording from Vilnius. The leaders are therefore said to recognise “the European aspirations and the European choice” of these partner countries “as stated in the association agreements”. The latest draft statement does not even include this phrase but simply refers to the final statements of previous Eastern Partnership summits. The leaders reportedly also stated their “firm intention to progress the commitments taken at previous summits and in the bilateral agreements”.
Before leaving for Riga, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel dampened the hopes of the partner countries. The Eastern Partnership is “not an instrument” of the European neighbourhood policy, she told the German parliament, as reported by French news agency AFP. “We must not therefore raise hopes that we cannot make concrete later”, she added.
Asked about the letter from the MEPs, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said that it was about “expectations, but also things to do”. “We will now have to focus on the immediate next steps, the implementation of the association agreement and of the deep and comprehensive free trade area. It's about a process (…) and then we will be able to talk” about enlargement, he said during the Business Forum in Riga. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)