Germany and France Float More Opportunities to Selected EU Accession Countries
The paper would let candidates join EU programmes and parts of the single market before full membership, offering incentives during lengthy accession talks.
- On Thursday, Germany and France proposed giving aspiring European Union members earlier access to EU programmes and the single market before joining the 27-member bloc, aiming to inject momentum into enlargement discussions.
- Enlargement has risen up the EU agenda due to Russia's war against Ukraine, as officials seek ways to offer tangible benefits to candidates, countering the typically long and bureaucratic accession process.
- The Franco-German paper suggests integrating candidates into energy, industry, and the Emissions Trading System if they meet specific standards, while allowing representatives to attend ministerial meetings and summits without voting rights.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed last month granting Ukraine 'Associate member' status, though his blueprint raised concerns that Western Balkan nations working for years to join might receive fewer opportunities.
- EU and Western Balkan leaders meet today while Moldova and Ukraine prepare to begin negotiations soon; other candidate countries include North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, and Montenegro.
16 Articles
16 Articles
For many years, the Western Balkan countries have been applying for membership of the EU. No country has joined so far. When it comes to Chancellor Merz and France's President Macron, this is to change soon.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk attended the summit. The leaders of six EU candidate countries from the region were present: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia. "Nothing has happened regarding the accession process of the Balkan states. However, there is a mutual will to accelerate the accession process, but the European Union—and Poland—shares the view that all those who want to become members of the Eur…
Many European countries hope to join the EU - but the process is lengthy. Together with France's President Macron, Chancellor Merz now wants to speed up the process for several Balkan states. They probably also have it because of two major powers.
At the EU-Western Balkans summit, Germany and France want to speed up the accession process to the EU, with the aim of stimulating reforms.
The countries of the Western Balkans are waiting for accession to the EU for up to 22 years. Now Merz and Macron want to speed up.
Germany and France pitch swifter benefits for EU hopefuls in Balkans ...
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