Former EU Commissioner: Western Balkans People Tired of Waiting for EU Accession

Vera Jourova (YouTube screenshot)

A former vice president of the European Commission, Vera Jourova, has called for renewed momentum in European Union (EU) enlargement, particularly in the Western Balkans, her call coinciding with the beginning of the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa’s tour of the region aimed at advancing accession negotiations.

In a June 1 interview with Brussels-based Euronews Jourova said she had met many people from the Western Balkans tired of waiting 20 years to join the Union. “There has to be some movement,” she added, claiming that Europe’s strategic interests were increasingly in favor of enlargement.

“Over time, I have come to see that we need them to join us more than they need Europe. We must have the courage to grow politically and geographically. We are under strong pressure from the outside,” Jourova said.

Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said the long-term EU budget, competitiveness and enlargement would be among the leading priorities of Ireland’s upcoming EU presidency. Ireland will take over the six-month presidency over the Council of the European Union from Cyprus on July 1. It will be Ireland’s eighth term at the helm of the Council.

Byrne told the Brussels-based portal Politico that he believed there was fresh momentum for EU enlargement and that Ireland would focus on moving the accession process forward as efficiently as possible, with Montenegro seen as the first in line for membership and Ukraine also a priority.