On Thursday 25 April in Strasbourg, MEPs called on the European Commission to show ambition and firmness in its work to prepare the EU for new members.
On 20 March, the Commission adopted a communication highlighting the need to review policy areas and spending in preparation for the EU’s enlargement to include new countries (see EUROPE 13375/15).
“We need to rethink certain European policies”, said Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP, Spanish), who asked the European Commission to draw up an impact study for each candidate country analysing the effects of their possible accession. The issues at stake are cohesion and agriculture, in particular. He regretted that the Commission’s communication did not call for more financial resources to deal with future enlargements. “These financial resources are essential, especially for agriculture, which must not bear the cost of further enlargement”, said Francisco José Millán Mon. “We have to take on new responsibilities to ensure full and complete membership”, he warned. Finally, he called for a more ambitious neighbourhood policy towards the countries of the South.
Pedro Silva Pereira (S&D, Portuguese) felt that enlargement should not be considered “lightly”. He stressed that candidate countries must undertake the necessary reforms to fully respect European values (separation of powers, rule of law).
Reforming the treaties. Guy Verhofstadt (Renew Europe, Belgian) criticised the Commission for burying its head in the sand when it came to enlargement. “I find this irresponsible and crazy. The Commission is abandoning its historic role in preparing for an EU of 36” by proposing only to use the “passerelle” clause and ‘enhanced cooperation’. He called for a change to the treaty, to deal with the consequences of enlargement.
Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) advised adopting measures to facilitate the decision-making process in Europe (end of unanimity) and thus avoid “blackmail” within the EU Council. Conditionality in terms of the rule of law “must become more effective”, she believes.
Angel Dzhambazki (ECR, Bulgarian) denounced the double standards applied to enlargement, referring to events in North Macedonia. He opposed treaty reform. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)