In the beginning United Europe was composed by only six countries. Today, after fifty years, UE is of 27 members and we don’t see the end of this process! The branch of European Commission taking care of welcoming new members is named DG Enlargement. A welcome not easy to achieve we dare to say. About that matter and other ones Commissioner Olli Rehn introduced us the official statement of UE.
During half a century, the European Union has pursued ever-deeper integration while taking in new members. Most of the time, the two processes took place in parallel. A growing membership has been part of the development of European integration right from the start. Today’s EU, with 27 Member States and a population of close to 500 million people, is much safer, more prosperous, stronger and more influential than the original European Economic Community of 50 years ago, with its 6 members and population of less than 200 million.
Now, the EU, a community of values based on peace and freedom, democracy and the rule of law, as well as tolerance and solidarity is the world’s largest economic zone. The wider internal market and new economic opportunities have increased Europeans’ prosperity and competitiveness.
The governments of the EU Member States, coming together in the European Council, have agreed to extend the EU perspective to countries in South East Europe - Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia including Kosovo (under UN Security Council Resolution 1244) and Turkey. Membership will only happen when the necessary requirements are met. A gradual and carefully managed enlargement process creates a win-win situation for all countries concerned.
To have a detailed overview about this process we decided interviewing Commissioner Olli Rehn.
How do you consider the evolution of the enlargement process?
“During the past 50 years the EU has most of the time pursued deepening of its internal policies and the widening of its territory, ie enlargement.
Coinciding with the Southern enlargement in the 1980s, we founded the single market and developed substantial cohesion and regional policies. Following the Nordic and Austrian accessions in the 1990s, we established the single currency and reinforced our common foreign and security policy. Since the 2004 accessions, we have witnessed many new initiatives in the field of justice, liberty and security, as well as the pursuit of better policies for growth and jobs under the Lisbon agenda.
As a consequence of deepening integration and a parallel gradual widening of our zone of liberty and prosperity, Europe is today much safer and more prosperous than it was when the integration process started. With 27 Member States and a population of close on 500 million, today’s European Union is much stronger and more influential in global governance than the EEC 50 years ago with its 6 Member States and a population of less than 200 million.”
Which are the next steps of this process?
“Following the successful completion of the EU’s fifth enlargement that reunited Eastern and Western Europe, we consolidated our future enlargement agenda: it now covers South-eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey.
This policy is also based on conditionality. Progress towards the EU depends on how and when the countries meet the conditions of accession. Any country aspiring to join the Union must be prepared to cope with the obligations of membership.”
How long takes for a country the accomplishment of all procedures before to be a member of UE?
“To become a member state in the European Union, each country has to fulfil the same legal and economic conditions. This is a task of tall order, the countries must adopt not only all European standards in democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, but they also have to align their national legislation to the EU’s legal order, which amounts today to 80 000 pages!
The pace of progress on the EU road depends on the pace of progress in the reforms that allow for this alignment.”
Can we consider your Direction as the natural gate of connection between UE and Eastern Europe?
“This was certainly the case for the EU’s last, fifth enlargement, when ten countries for Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) and two countries of the Mediterranean (Cyprus and Malta) joined. The latest enlargement essentially brought an end to decades of bitter division in our continent. In this respect, enlargement policy has indeed been a gate as well as the bridge stretching over to large parts of what formerly used to be Eastern Europe.
Our policy today is focussing towards South-eastern Europe serving as a bridge there too, especially when it comes to Turkey.”
In which ways may your Direction help the solution of problems caused by independence of Kosova?
“The EU is committed to support the economic and social development of Kosovo. We support Kosovo to build a new legal order that respects democratic rights for all and protects minorities
The EU, on its part, is working hard to ensure the operational deployment of its EULEX mission, and actively coordinating with the UN on the reconfiguration of the international presence.
To help Kosovo in its European integration path, the Commission also provides substantial financial assistance as an answer to its socio-economic development needs. The EU budget already foresees almost €400 million for the period 2007-2011. In addition preparations are on-going for calling a donors’ conference that would mobilise funding for Kosovo’s most pressing needs.”
Site of DG Enlargement
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