Opinion: Courage and disappointment at the EU summit

The disappointment is great among the candidates from the Western Balkans who want EU membership. They have been promised membership for decades, but for various reasons do not move forward. Suddenly Ukraine and Moldova overtake the Balkan states. In record time they become EU candidate countries.

Disappointment is understandable, but it is based on erroneous assumptions. In the future, in the enlargement of the EU, it will be about geopolitics, about the protection of the Russian president from the imperial thirst. It is no longer a question – as in the case of the Western Balkans and, to a large extent, the special case of Turkey – of a political and economic approximation of aspiring societies to EU standards.

Necessary challenge

With the historic decision to grant candidate status to a geographically large country like Ukraine, which is at war, the EU is resizing its policy. The move carries political risks, as experienced Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said. But risks to be considered. Those who want to dare less, such as France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany console themselves, that this step is not costly at the moment, and a real membership of Ukraine after years of negotiations belongs to an indefinite future.

This historic step for a while will have a positive effect on the candidate countries of the Balkans. Because for the EU it is important at the moment to repel Russian and Chinese influence in the region. The admission criteria required so strictly have to be somewhat softened. Bulgaria’s unnecessary and annoying blockade must end soon. It can no longer go on like this, that an EU country vents its internal political problems by taking the membership process hostage. Not only Bulgaria, but also Greece and France, where appropriate, have vetoed the process.

The Balkans must solve its own problems

It should be noted that the problems of the Western Balkans accession process relate only to a certain extent to the EU. The biggest obstacles must be overcome by the candidate countries themselves – the return to stable democracies, the rule of law, the resolution of conflicts with neighbors – these problems are not solved by the EU. This is up to these countries to decide. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and Albania still have some way to go.

It would certainly have been positive if the 26 EU countries had come out united against Bulgaria and opened negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia. The principle of unanimity has prevented this. In this sense, the Brussels summit was again a missed opportunity to give a new impetus to European motivation in the Balkans. But he sent a very strong signal to Russia: the EU, despite the difficulties, is ready to rise above itself and accept Ukraine. And Moscow can not stop this.

Pressure for EU reform

This bold step will change the EU. It must become capable of new admissions, it must facilitate decision-making processes. Otherwise it will not be able to accept new members. This is nothing new, but nothing has been done in recent years. Eurosceptic populists have increased in the EU due to the financial crisis, debts and refugees, and the acceptance capacity has decreased. It is not known whether the geopolitical shock with the war launched by Russia will be a turning point in this trend or will strengthen it.

The EU should do better this time, than in the case of Turkey, also a large potential country for the EU, which in part in 2005 but for geostrategic reasons would be accepted. In the course of this long process, Turkey has moved to an autocratic camp and has no chance of becoming a member in the foreseeable future. This should not be repeated with Ukraine./DW

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