Supported by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the ministers responsible for the enlargement of the EU with the candidate countries (Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) recalled, on Monday, 11 March, the importance of the European Union's Enlargement policy.
“At this time when speaking about Brexit, it is reassuring to see countries which want to join the EU”, explained Romanian Minister Delegate for European Affairs, George Ciamba, after an informal meeting in Bucharest. “With the United Kingdom leaving the EU, the renaissance of the European spirit is coming from the other side of the continent”, said Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Bujar Osmani.
For the Chief Negotiator for Montenegro's accession to the EU, Aleksandar Drljević, “despite the challenges facing the EU, the Enlargement policy will remain at the centre of the attention of the EU and the Member States". “Enlargement is an integral part of the overall strategy to strengthen the EU”, added Albanian Deputy Minister for Europe and European Affairs Sokol Dedja, who was supported by his Serbian counterpart Jadranka Joksimovic, for whom “enlargement is in the interest of both the EU and the candidate countries to have a strong, well-functioning EU very capable to address all relevant issues”.
The Serbian and Turkish ministers reiterated that the EU must invest in the Enlargement policy. Ms Joksimovic hoped that the Union would start speaking with one voice on this issue. “If the EU does not re-hire in enlargement policy, then enlargement will retire”, she warned. And while some of the leaders of the Twenty-Eight highlight the need to reform the EU before enlarging it - for the Serbian minister, this internal reform should be held in parallel with a credible enlargement policy which would reinforce each other.
“Enlargement is the most successful policy of the EU. The EU must play its part”, confirmed Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Faruk Kaymakci, denouncing the fact that some national agendas played a negative role in Turkey's accession.
The Balkan countries took the opportunity to reiterate their expectations. Before the end of June, North Macedonia and Albania hope to open their accession negotiations, Montenegro its last negotiating chapter and the closing of others, and Serbia hopes to open two or three chapters. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)