BRUSSELS – The Council of the European Union for General Affairs did not adopt the text of the conclusions regarding the Union’s enlargement during its final session of the year, as announced by Danish Minister for European Affairs, Mari Bjere. “We attempted to finalize Council conclusions, but unfortunately, we were unsuccessful. Hungary is preventing us from reaching an agreement. Our efforts to find a solution were dismissed, and I deeply regret this,” Bjere stated at a conference in the EU Council.
She noted that several Council members expressed concern that this situation sends a negative message to candidate countries seeking membership. “We want them to choose the EU over Russia, and we regret this outcome. This is particularly significant given that enlargement is crucial for all other member states, especially as candidate countries are making progress in the merit-based accession process,” Bjere explained. She added that the EU Council will now convert the draft conclusions into the conclusions of the EU Council Presidency, with backing from 26 member states.
During the session, aside from enlargement, discussions included preparations for the upcoming European Council meeting, which will focus on ensuring ongoing financial support for Ukraine, including the European Commission’s proposal for reparations funded by immobilized Russian assets. “This week is historically significant for Europe. Finding a solution for Ukraine is essential for both Ukraine and European security,” assessed Bjere.
Another discussion topic was the multiannual financial framework, aiming to establish a foundation for progress in that area. She reported that the EC presented three reports focusing on simplification and enhancing competitiveness, which are vital to the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Bjere expressed satisfaction with the support for this agenda, emphasizing that the adoption of conclusions will enable systematic monitoring of economic consequences every six months, which will assist in guiding future simplification efforts. (16 December)
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