Portugal opposes EU enlargement ‘fixed deadlines’

EU enlargement should not have fixed deadlines, but its institutions must be reformed to accommodate new members, particularly when it comes to decision-making, but it is also essential newcomers do their homework, the Portuguese government said on Wednesday.

“It is not wise to set fixed or very determined timetables. The enlargement process is based on the candidates’ own merit and on an assessment of their capacity and fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria,” the secretary of state for European Affairs, Tiago Antunes, said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a parliamentary EU affairs committee hearing ahead of the informal European Council meeting on Friday in Granada, Spain, Antunes said the EU enlargement will be “the centrepiece” of the meeting.

“It is an absolute priority, which for essentially geopolitical reasons has gained new importance, both for the countries of the western Balkans, which have been waiting for the longest and for the eastern trio of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia”, he said.

At the end of August, European Council President Charles Michel said he wanted Europe to be ready for enlargement by 2030.

Also read: Michel wants December summit to approve Ukraine Moldova accession talks

Berlin and Paris share the ambition for the 2030 deadline on condition that the necessary institutional reforms are carried out in the EU, such as reducing the unanimity requirement in decision-making.

However, politicians in Berlin insist that specific member states, citing Poland as an example, oppose these reforms despite simultaneously being fierce advocates of immediate Ukrainian EU membership.

Read more: Berlin eyes 2030 EU enlargement, but Poland remains an obstacle

“There’s a consensus that enlargement is an investment in peace, security and stability in Europe,” said Antunes.

“We want it to happen, hopefully as soon as possible,” he added.

Portugal argues that “we need to speed up the work that will make this enlargement possible, both for the candidate countries and for the European Union itself” so that both sides “are prepared for when that moment arrives”.

“The candidate countries must speed up their reform process, particularly about the rule of law, which is an essential and basic aspect”.

“It is also our obligation to provide technical assistance and help the candidate countries in this extremely demanding process of preparing for and integrating into the community acquis (the collection of common rights and obligations that constitute the body of EU law, incorporated into the legal systems of EU member states),” said the secretary of state.

More difficulties with 35, 36 member states

Meanwhile, Antunes also pointed out that Portugal has warned about reforming the EU to accommodate new member states.

With decision-making being “already quite difficult at 27”, “the difficulties will be even greater” with “potentially 35 or 36 members”, he added.

“This implies a reflection on what needs to change so that we can function effectively with more member states and more diverse member states,” he said.

Enlargement will impact three different levels: “at the institutional level, of the decision-making process; on major European policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy or Cohesion Policy; and at the budgetary level, with significant budgetary implications,” he added.

Enlargement “will not be without its costs,” and this “will have to be foreseen in the discussion of the next multiannual financial framework”, Antunes also said.

(Joana Haderer, edited by Cristina Cardoso | Lusa.pt, Sarantis Michalopoulos | Euractiv.com)