Lithuanian Member of the European Parliament Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe) and rapporteur for the enlargement strategy, in an interview with the EUpravo Zato portal, stated that EU enlargement is a strategic investment in the European project and that the Union no longer has time to delay decisions.
According to him, the EU must both implement its internal reforms and speed up the integration of candidate countries, warning that failure to do so could result in a loss of geopolitical influence in the region.
Speaking to our correspondent ahead of the plenary session in Strasbourg, where the EU enlargement strategy was debated, Auštrevičius said that the Western Balkans has a realistic chance of becoming part of the European Union by 2035. However, he stressed that the pace of accession will depend primarily on the implementation of reforms, political stability, and good neighbourly relations within the region itself.
"I think the Western Balkans has a very good chance. But this must be accompanied by genuine reforms, political consolidation, and good neighbourly relations. I emphasise that good neighbourly relations will never be overlooked. So, much depends on the domestic agenda. I can tell you that the more arguments you have at home demonstrating your readiness, the more positive the response you will receive from the European Union," he said, adding that the region will have the support of the European Parliament.
How ready are candidate countries for the EU?
Auštrevičius stressed that EU enlargement is a strategic investment in the project of European unification, which is not yet complete. He emphasised that the EU cannot keep postponing decisions and must move from words to action - towards negotiations and integration.
He also warned that Member States are not ready for reforms, and that time is running out; delays could jeopardise strategic investments and the preparedness of candidate countries.
"We cannot keep talking and talking without making decisions, because sometimes time becomes a burden rather than an advantage. That is why we must move forward -from words to deeds, towards negotiations and integration - and the European Union must change. Enlargement is a good opportunity for internal reforms," he said.
Auštrevičius added that Member States "are not ready" and that "the European Parliament has been calling for reforms for some time, but many Member States are still not prepared".
"Every country in the world lives within 24 hours. The European Union does not have 26 or 30 hours. If we do not act properly now, we will ruin our strategic investments, and candidate countries will be less ready for reforms - we may even lose strategically. If not us, Russia is offering a so-called hand of cooperation. Is that acceptable for us? Are we ready to watch third countries intervene in Europe’s internal affairs? I think we are not," the MEP added.
Debate on the report and EU enlargement strategy
A plenary session was held in Strasbourg on 10 March, where Members of the European Parliament debated the European Parliament’s report on the EU enlargement strategy, for which Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe) is the rapporteur.
The report on the enlargement strategy, which emphasises that the process must remain merit-based and may involve freezing accession negotiations in the event of backsliding, was adopted in January by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). Following the debate, a vote on the report was scheduled for Wednesday.
The document also states that the enlargement process is subject to strict conditions linked to progress in fulfilling fundamental principles - namely the rule of law, including the fight against corruption and judicial independence, democracy, and core values.
"The report emphasises that the process must remain merit-based and reversible, with countries assessed based on their compliance with the Copenhagen criteria and alignment with the EU acquis. It stresses that there can be no shortcuts, especially regarding values and fundamentals, and that backsliding constitutes grounds for freezing or reversing accession negotiations," the document states.
What does the report say?
In the report, Parliament called on the European Commission to establish a monitoring group to track the implementation of reforms within the Fundamentals cluster. It also calls for an evaluation of enlargement policy to assess why some countries have made limited progress in adopting or implementing legislation.
In its report on the EU enlargement strategy, AFET praised Montenegro and Albania for their significant progress. Beyond the Western Balkans, Ukraine was commended for its resilience and commitment to the EU path, and Moldova for its determined progress.
What is the draft EU enlargement strategy?
The draft EU enlargement strategy is a document that serves as a framework for the process of admitting new countries into the European Union. It defines the reforms and criteria that candidate countries must meet, including the rule of law, the fight against corruption, protection of human rights, and economic standards.
It also outlines how their progress will be monitored and sets a timeframe for meeting obligations, although it does not yet constitute legally binding decisions. The draft also addresses political challenges, such as bilateral disputes between candidate countries and Member States, and serves as a guide for the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the EU in making future enlargement decisions.
(EUpravo zato)
