EU Enlargement is in Europe’s Strategic Interest
On the EU Enlargement Package: Enlargement is in Europe’s Strategic Interest
EU Member States Must Set the Course – Praise for Commissioner Johannes Hahn’s Work
“The commencement of negotiations on the promised enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of South-Eastern Europe will be among the most important tasks of the next EU Commission,” states Paneuropa Secretary-General Rainhard Kloucek on the occasion of today’s presentation of the enlargement strategy by Commissioner Johannes Hahn. However, it is not only the Commission that is called upon: “Above all, the EU Member States must now set the appropriate course in the Council. The excuse that enlargement would play into the hands of right-wing populists in the European elections is now obsolete.”
Against this backdrop, Kloucek expresses his delight at the clearly pro-European tendency of the Austrian result and praises Commissioner Hahn: “His fundamental principle, that the EU must export stability, as it would otherwise import instability, shows foresight and is absolutely spot on in terms of content. It is no coincidence that Johannes Hahn has earned a truly excellent reputation within the EU institutions.”
Already in its position paper for the European elections (available at https://pan.thatscommunication.de/fuer-ein-starkes-europa-for-a-strong-europe/), the Paneuropa Movement Austria called, among other things, for increased efforts to integrate the countries of South-Eastern Europe into the EU, immediate visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo, and a clear European perspective for Ukraine.
Since the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003, i.e., for 16 years, EU states have been promising the citizens of South-Eastern Europe the start of talks. So far, negotiations have only been opened with Serbia and Montenegro. It is now also time for North Macedonia, not least to acknowledge its significant efforts and successes in relations with Greece. Accession talks should also be opened with Albania. “Europe cannot afford to further frustrate the reform-oriented pro-European population in the Balkans through blockades,” warns International Officer Stefan Haböck.
Note: The Paneuropa Movement Austria is the Austrian organisation of the non-partisan Paneuropean Union. Founded in 1922 by Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, it is the oldest European unification movement with 24 organisations in 22 European states.
pan.thatscommunication.de/ | facebook.com/paneuropabewegung | instagram.com/paneuropa_austria | twitter.com/paneuropa_austria
