RFE: Nine EU Member States Propose New Enlargement Strategy

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Nine EU member states have come forth with a joint proposal for a new EU enlargement strategy that, according to announcements, the European Commission will be deciding on by the end of January 2020.

Radio Free Europe has had an insight into a non-paper signed by Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovenia as their contribution to the future methodology for accession negotiations with the Western Balkan countries.

Noting that “Our doors remain open,” the nine countries underlined that “a stronger approach to accession” should be added to the existing enlargement consensus” based on the following principles: “full EU membership as the ultimate goal; the fundamentals first; the merit-based approach; strict but fair conditioning; encouragement of regional cooperation and good neighborly relations, compatibility with the existing negotiating framework.”

The nine states asked from the European Commission that in the future methodology the negotiating chapters be grouped according to main areas and open in parallel and not subsequently. The proposers believe that thus the inter-governmental conferences of the EU and the candidate countries would become “politically more relevant and more interactive.”

The nine states paid special attention to negotiating chapters 23 and 24, on the rule of law.

They asked that the rule of law be approached taking into account the priorities, clear recommendations and deadlines.

They also believe that the EU and its member states should “offer greater support to the implementation of the European acquis”, especially to curbing corruption and organized crime.

They pointed out that the consideration of the laws of candidate countries linked with these two chapters should begin at the moment the candidate status is approved.

The nine countries also proposed that – as an incentive – annual meetings be organized between the EU and the Western Balkans on the level of leaders, as well as a greater participation of the region’s representatives in informal meetings of the European Council (the EU summit).

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi has confirmed that in January the European Commission will define a new draft proposal for changing the methodology of the accession process.

The “renewed approach” to accession negotiations is necessary so that France would approve the opening of accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania, which could be expected at an EU summit in March 2020, on condition that the new methodology obtains the necessary support of all member states, the RFE reports.