European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed that the enlargement of the European Union remains a process governed by merit, emphasizing that candidate nations must meet established criteria to advance toward membership. Speaking in Tivat ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit, von der Leyen acknowledged the favorable momentum currently present to accelerate the integration of these countries, stating that a merit-based approach does not inherently imply a slow pace. During the summit, Albulena Haxhiu, representing Kosovo, met with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
Haxhiu advocated for increased support from the Czech state for integration processes, calling for the entire procedure to become faster, more reliable, and more visible to the citizens of both candidate countries and existing EU members. Building on this, von der Leyen stressed the dual responsibility required for successful enlargement. She noted that governments in aspiring countries must actively educate their populations on the benefits of EU membership.
Simultaneously, she charged member states with the duty of communicating the values and advantages inherent in expansion. Von der Leyen concluded that enlargement promises enhanced security, greater prosperity, and a stronger global role for Europe, asserting that the current timing necessitates turning this momentum into concrete actions leading to full membership.
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The focus on merit criteria suggests that future enlargement will be strictly conditional on demonstrated adherence to EU standards.
What specific criteria must candidate nations meet to advance toward EU membership?