As the European Union's 2024 elections approach, enlargement is once again under consideration. The European Commission recommended the EU's enlargement package covering 10 countries on November 8, 2023. While the Commission quickly recommended to open the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova due to the Russian threat, it also emphasises the necessity for a substantial reform process within this 10-country enlargement package.
The discussion surrounding the impact of enlargement on the EU Member States has gained momentum. Ukraine has already integrated electricity grid to European standards and adequate facilities for gas storage could potentially offer a solution to the EU's energy crisis. Additionally, Germany eyes Ukraine’s significant hydroelectric energy production and the potential of wind, solar, and biomass energy as valuable green investments.
While Ukraine's EU candidacy might promise enhanced food security, the war-torn reality cannot be overlooked. Its accession process should only be discussed as a result of its rapid recovery and development after the war.
Another point that draws attention in the enlargement package is the emphasis on regional economic integration, crucial for the economic alignment of Western Balkan countries, namely North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Growth Plan has been proposed to integrate these countries into the European Single Market, contingent upon achieving the necessary level of preparedness. The initial areas of this plan include the free movement of goods, the free movement of some e-commerce tools, industrial supply chains, facilitation of road transport, integration and decarbonisation of energy markets, and access to the Single Digital Market and the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). It is possible for EU countries to invest in this group of countries and to open new fields with the Growth Plan.
Although EU enlargement has the potential to revitalise the Union, the speed of progress in reforms within each country will be the key factor. Hastening membership discussions before completing these reforms could potentially trigger fundamental issues within the EU, especially considering recent economic challenges.
All eyes turn to the upcoming December meeting of the European Council that already holds a heavy agenda. While the decisions expected from this meeting are a matter of curiosity, whispers show that enlargement discussions may be revived in the summer of 2024.
Stay tuned for the next post on this topic, exploring how these developments might reshape EU associations, their membership models, and what lies on the horizon for the Union's future.
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