On Tuesday 30 April, Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, speaking on behalf of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, stressed the importance for countries aspiring to join the EU to carry out the necessary reforms, particularly with respect to the rule of law.
“We ask candidate countries to carry out significant reforms [...] to meet European standards, to commit to stability in the long term and to be ready to integrate themselves into our European family. And that is where the rule of law comes in”, the Minister reminded the informal General Affairs Council attended by the 10 countries aspiring to join the EU. “Above all, the Union is a union of values. It is not just a cash machine, it is not a transactional organisation. We are a Union based on fundamental values such as democracy, the rule of law. And these values need to be adopted, protected and anchored in all of the societies of those who want to join the European family”, she reminded.
This work is supported by existing EU Member States. “Enlargement is a long and challenging process. It requires considerable efforts, reforms are necessary [...] It is important that we do this together”, explained European Commissioner Věra Jourová, echoing many of the ministers present who, on their arrival, stressed the need to cooperate and help countries join the EU. The Council was also an opportunity for a group of countries led by Lithuania to call on the Georgian government to listen to the European aspirations of its people at a time when the EU is concerned about the adoption of a law on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ (see EUROPE 13393/35).
During the discussion, which was structured around a study carried out by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, IDEA (https://aeur.eu/f/c0u ), ministers discussed in particular the possibility of gradually integrating the aspiring countries into the EU’s internal rule of law process and the creation of an annual forum on the rule of law and enlargement.
Member State administrations could also provide more technical assistance to the administrations of aspiring countries. According to one source, this should enable Member State governments to bear in mind what it might mean for aspiring countries to align themselves with respect for the fundamental principles of the rule of law. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)