During the plenary session (10-13 February 2020) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the revised approach on enlargement, as presented by the Commission on 5 February. Statement by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), Ilhan KYUCHYUK (RE, BG), Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK) and Nathalie LOISEAU (RE, FR).

Assessment of the revised enlargement methodology proposal of the European Commission: extracts from the debate

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SOUNDBITE (English), Oliv&#233;r V&#193;RHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, First, the process has to be more credible. Countries need to deliver on the reforms they promised, and the EU needs to deliver when they do so. To help credibility, you will see an ever stronger focus on the fundamental freedoms and reforms as this is the core for real transformation. This means the rule of law, but also functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and economic criteria. The second principle is about putting the political nature of the process for front and center. We intend to ensure top level engagement with the candidate countries through regular EU Western Balkan summits and ministerial meetings. We want to involve member states more strongly and give them better opportunities to monitor and review the process to support and keep track of the fundamental freedom, fundamental reforms needed. The third principle addresses the need to make the whole process more dynamic with a stronger focus on core sectors.

SOUNDBITE (English), Tonino PICULA (S&amp;D, HR), New methodologies set only three months after a European Council meeting went to Western Balkans countries has been denied to start negotiations. This demonstrates how European Union institutions still can respond at the times of crisis. It goes without saying that the primacy of democracy and the rule of law should be placed at the very center of the enlargement process by opening first and closing last chapters related judiciary, corruption and organized crime, as well as the respect of the human rights and media freedom.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ilhan KYUCHYUK (RE, BG), Today we have to sit and see how we can go forward together and deliver on the European aspirations of the people of the Western Balkans. And I hope this time we will not see any last minute surprises. It is too early to make general conclusions on how the new methodology will work. But in order to enchance the effectiveness of the accession process, it should provide a dynamism rather than complicating the enlargement process. In this reform we meant a stronger focus on the fundamental reform organization of the chapters in thematic clusters and clear conditionality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Without functioning democracy, without rule of law, and even without good governance, there is nothing to talk about. Unfortunately, democratic institutions are not safe once we see progress. Rule of law and media pluralism have been declining since Serbia's start of negotiations in 2014. Yet we pretend as nothing has happened and continue the negotiations and other chapters, but without the fundamentals, we cannot progress in other fields either.

SOUNDBITE (English), Vladim&#237;r BIL&#268;&#205;K (EPP, SK), As the standing rapporteur for Serbia and as the delegation chair for Montenegro, I really welcome the revised methodology on enlargement. But I also welcome it as the first step, as the first step in a journey, a journey towards making enlargement a successful European political priority. Our partners in the Western Balkans must regain trust in their European perspective and engaged communication is the key to this trust. Now it is time to bring the council and the member states on board. We must be united when it comes to enlargement. And the first key step is to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania by March this year. Only then we can really engage on the fundamentals. Being united in enlargement means that we can succeed.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie LOISEAU (RE, FR), This is not just an empty declaration on paper. This is something that brings us together. We've got too many opponents of liberty around our Union and we don't want more. We will not be satisfied with statements of intent or paper reforms or adopted reforms. We want hard and fast reality on a day to day basis with the defense of our fundamental rights.

Event date	10/02/2020
Reference:	I184227V
Format:	16:9 format
Copyright:	© European Union
copyrightYear:	2020

Assessment of the revised enlargement methodology proposal of the European Commission: extracts from the debate

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