Varhelyi: Opening of New Chapter in Talks with Serbia a Sign that EU Wants to Continue Enlargement

Oliver Varhelyi (Beta/AP/Francisco Seco)

European enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said in Brussels on Dec.10 that "is very good news that Serbia is opening a new chapter in negotiations on membership" and that "I am confident that the enlargement procedure is progressing and that this is a sign that the EU's member states want to continue actions which are conducive to enlargement."

Varhelyi was replying to a journalist who asked for his opinion of the fact that Serbia had opened only one new chapter given that he had said that "the expectations of countries that are negotiating membership where higher."

When asked which part of France's proposals for bolstering the "methodology" for enlargement had invigorated and strengthened the process, Varhelyi replied that "there are a number of countries that gave their proposals, but the European Commission will express its own conclusions."

The enlargement commissioner stressed that he expected the first debate on the the basis of harmonized proposals in the European Commission to start in January and that from then on they would continue very quickly.

According to the EU Council of Ministers the Commission is due to publicize by Jan. 20 its proposals on changing "the methodology" of enlargement followed by a debate by EU foreign ministers.