As EU countries are only expected to offer Croatia a realistic chances of joining the bloc in the near term, holding back the membership aspirations of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania, Topolánek, who had just returned from a tour of the region, strongly advocated a more generous approach to the Western Balkans.
"The citizens of the countries which try to prevent further EU enlargement are opposing the principal idea of the European Community. The civilisation mission and the enlargement of a space of security, prosperity and freedom must be perpetuated, since these are the values upon which the EU was founded. Introducing new iron curtains, barriers or walls is a road to hell," Topolánek said.
Quoting Winston Churchill, he explained that without gradually integrating the Western Balkans, but at the same time insisting that the Copenhagen criteria for accession be fulfilled, the EU will create a "new problem in the abdomen of Europe".
Topolánek insisted that his country's approach in fact represents the majority opinion inside the EU.
The Czech prime minister answered other questions on the subject of enlargement too.
'Reservations are an insult to me'
"The reservations of some European citizens towards further EU enlargement are in fact an insult to me, since the Czech Republic also joined the EU only five years ago. There are numerous people behind the gates of the EU who similarly suffered under the yoke of communist totalitarian regimes, and yet they believe in the same values as we do. What gives us the right not to give them at least a chance?," Topolánek asked.
The view that only a minority of EU countries are opposed to deciding to accelerate EU accession was confirmed today by a diplomat from a large Western EU country. He singled out the case of Montenegro, saying Germany and the Netherlands have been left isolated within the EU, because they have no convincing arguments for opposing the opening of accession negotiations with the country at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 16-17 March.
EU foreign ministers have been invited to give their green light to the Commission's "avis", issued in the wake of Montenegro's formal application to join the EU last December (EurActiv 12/03/09).
"One thing is if there is a bilateral problem preventing the accession process, as is the case between Croatia and Slovenia, or Macedonia and Greece; another thing is if the opposition is [so] just out of political sensitivity," the diplomat said. He added that not giving a positive "avis" to Podgorica would be a "bad signal".
If no decision is taken next week, the issue will be left for the agenda of the next GAERC in Luxembourg, on 27 and 28 April.
