Kallas urges speeding up EU enlargement process
Photo: Head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas (Getty Images)
The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, spoke in favor of accelerating the bloc’s enlargement process. She called for more active promotion of the integration of candidate countries, including Ukraine, Politico reports.
According to her, enlargement should continue to be based on meeting the necessary criteria, but under current circumstances, the EU must act faster.
"Enlargement is the antidote to Russian imperialism, and a sign that the most ambitious multilateral project in history, the European Union, is here to stay," Kallas emphasized.
At the same time, the diplomat stressed that enlargement should not be viewed merely as a bureaucratic process of fulfilling criteria.
"Enlargement has been described as the union’s most successful foreign policy, extending the area of stability, peace and prosperity," she added, referring to Eurobarometer data showing broad support for the enlargement of the 27-member bloc.
Do EU countries support the idea of rapid enlargement?
The publication noted that calls for faster enlargement come amid discussions within the EU. The European Commission supports accelerating the process, while some member states advocate a more cautious approach.
According to a senior EU diplomat, member states are trying to find a compromise to continue the enlargement process despite differences between the European Commission and the Council of the EU.
Work is currently underway to ensure that the next three Council presidencies pay particular attention to this issue. The goal is to complete negotiations for Ukraine’s accession by the end of 2027, although the signing of the membership treaty could take place later.
At the end of February, the EU began actively discussing changes to its internal rules to prepare the bloc for possible enlargement, including updating regulations that have been in place for over 40 years.
At the same time, Brussels emphasizes that the question of specific accession dates remains open, as candidate countries must meet all necessary criteria.
Despite this, Kyiv insists on a political decision regarding membership. The Ukrainian authorities believe that such a step would send a clear signal to the public and investors about the irreversibility of the country’s European course.
