Debate on the Enlargement package and European Neighbourhood Policy
Channel: EPPGroup CoR
Date: 2020-12-10

The need of the Western Balkans to demonstrate political will in the path towards EU accession as well as the possibility to engage them in the discussions on the  Conference on the future of Europe were among the key issues raised by EPP-CoR member during a debate on the enlargement package and the European neighborhood policy with Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

Nikola Dobroslavić, Prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County said that the EU’s commitment to the enlargement process of Western Balkan countries and the  Economic and Investment Plan presented by the Commission is an opportunity for them, political will and determination by the Enlargement countries remain key to success. Dobroslavić who serves as the CoR rapporteur on the Enlargement Package 2020 said that the Package is an accurate analysis of the situation in the Western Balkans. However, he remarked that the local and regional level needs even higher attention in the documents.

Dobroslavić who Chairs the CoR Working Group on the Western Balkans said that the CoR opinion will advocate strengthening of the position and of the role of LRAs in the enlargement countries. It will also address deficiencies in the functioning of local democracy, especially the phenomenon of “local state capture”, shortcomings in the rule of law, in media freedom, respect of minority rights and the fight against corruption.

Franz Schausberger, former Governor of Salzburg called on the European Commission to place enlargement more at the center of its policies. He said that in the planned discussion on the future of Europe, the enlargement countries of the Western Balkans must at least be able to participate as “active observers”. “This is not only an important symbolic gesture, but the EU must also know the opinion of those who are on the way to become members of the EU.” He called for the inclusion of the regions and municipalities in enlargement negotiations and in the discussion about the future of Europe.

Anna Magyar, Member of Csongrád Megye Council called on the EU to speed up the Enlargement with the Western Balkans adding that also advancing the Eastern Partnership is essential. She congratulated the Commissioner on his decision to go forward with the implementation of the CoR initiative of Eastern Partnership Academy for Public Administration.

Agnès Rampal, Deputy Mayor of Nice spoke on the need to reinforce the partnership in the Mediterranean region. She said that we need to build a Macro-Regional strategy for the Mediterranean. This must face the most important challenges such as food safety, climate change and the situation arising from the COVID pandemic. “We want to bring together the local and regional representatives, EU representatives, civil society and come up with concrete solutions.”