Brussels – During the EU-Western Balkans summit on Wednesday, European Council President Antonio Costa declared that introducing bilateral disputes among member states and candidate nations into the EU enlargement process is unjust. He committed to personally addressing the conflicts that obstruct the candidates’ paths towards EU membership.
“I will take an active role in resolving these bilateral issues, as we must perceive enlargement as a crucial geopolitical investment not only for the Western Balkans but for the collective interest of all 27 member states,” stated the newly appointed President of the European Council.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Costa’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of finding compromises to address bilateral tensions.
On the topic of potentially allowing member states to make decisions by qualified majority rather than requiring unanimity during certain stages of the enlargement process—an idea supported by Slovenia and Germany among others—she clarified that a shift to qualified majority voting also necessitates unanimous agreement.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob noted ahead of Thursday’s EU summit that it may not be essential for member states to vote on every aspect; rather, they could empower the commission with a mandate to manage the process.
Prior to the European Council meeting, Golob also held discussions with Slovenia’s new European Commissioner, Marta Kos, who will oversee the EU’s enlargement efforts for the next five years. She is set to embark on her first official visit to Slovenia on Monday, December 18 and 19.
Leave a Reply