“As we prepare the EU’s next strategic agenda, we need to set a clear target. I think we – on both sides – need to be ready for enlargement by 2030,” Michel said during a speech at the Bled Strategic Forum. an event taking place between today and Tuesday under the theme “Solidarity for Global Security”.
The leader of the European Council also stressed that if the EU is to be credible, it must “talk about a timetable”.
“It is ambitious, but necessary, it shows that we mean business,” the community leader added at the meeting attended by leaders from countries in Central Europe and the Western Balkans.
The enlargement of the EU bloc – currently with 27 members – will be at the center of EU leaders’ discussions at their upcoming summits.
In particular, European leaders will have to decide whether or not to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
The European Commission is expected to present its recommendations on this in the autumn.
Both countries were granted candidate status in June 2022, a few months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The EU has granted candidate country status to seven countries: Albania, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia and Kosovo are potential candidates, according to the European Commission.
Source: DN
