E fundit!

22:51 TODAY

Businessman Artur Shehu breaks his silence: I am a long-time land owner in Zvërnec, I don't know the investors at all

Albanian businessman Artur Shehu spoke on the Opinion show...

"There will be no membership for geopolitical reasons"/ Bushati talks with former Director of Enlargement at the EC

2025-03-29 17:04:00, Aktualitet CNA

"There will be no membership for geopolitical reasons"/ Bushati talks

Former Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati spoke on his podcast "Public Square" with Pierre Mirel, former Director of Enlargement at the European Commission, about several issues, including the Western Balkans.

Mirel during his speech said that the current situation in the EU is more difficult than ever . The former director of enlargement said that many things in the current situation will depend on the outcome of the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia . Mirel during the conversation said that regardless of the outcome, the impact on the Western Balkans will be positive.

" I won't exaggerate, but I think the EU has never faced such a difficult situation. The resistance of the Russian army in Ukraine, more than two years ago, people would imagine that Ukraine would have taken certain parts of the territory, is a growing feeling against the war, an anti-war movement in a number of Central European states.

The EU is stuck between China, and that is clear, but also the US. And this is my particular concern, if Trump threatens the EU on various issues, we could very easily get involved in a trade war. It is a very, very difficult and delicate period. Observing the divisions that already exist in Europe, among the member states, I am sure that the member states could distance themselves even more from each other.

"A lot depends on the outcome of the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. What could be the outcome? The outcome could either be in favor of Ukraine, but referring to the situation of the armies on the ground I am not sure. Or it could lead to a still divided, occupied Ukraine. What would be the impact on enlargement? For me, enlargement means the Western Balkans. Regardless of a positive outcome or not, I think the impact could be positive for the Western Balkans, because in any situation I do not think that the EU member states would want to add new tensions or growing tensions in the Western Balkans. I think and hope that the outcome will be more positive for enlargement in the Western Balkans ," said Mirel.

Former Minister Bushati asked Mirel: When we talk about the Western Balkans, you know very well from your experience in the European Commission that the US has traditionally been considered as tightening the security perimeter, while the EU and especially the European Commission have worked with candidate countries and countries aspiring to become EU members in terms of the rule of law, or the rule of law in the economy. How do you see these two critical elements in the current circumstances?

The former Director of Enlargement at the European Commission stated that EU member states would not accept membership solely for geopolitical reasons, ignoring the fulfillment of justice reforms or good governance . Mirel stated that it fully aligns with the EU's foreign policy, like Albania or Montenegro, and only then can the state receive a special new status as an associate member.

“ I don’t think that member states would accept new memberships just for geopolitical reasons, which means ignoring the fulfillment of rule of law reforms and good governance. I don’t think they would accept them, because with the experience of Bulgaria, Romania twenty years ago and they don’t want to have another illiberal Hungary, another Orban. Of course, not all member states, but a good number of them. I think that they will continue to push and emphasize reforms or the so-called “fundamental issues”, as they refer to them during the process. You are right, that for geopolitical reasons these moments, as everyone is saying, these new opportunities should be used, in order to bring countries closer to the EU as soon as possible. So how do we make this impossible possible? In my view, there is not much possibility, because conditionality only works if a partner wants to use this conditionality to change. If there is no political will, there is no chance for real change. The solution that some of us are looking for is the so-called gradual accession.

At least for those countries that within five years would not be able to join for various reasons through the classical membership method or process that we currently know. In other words, if by 2030 Albania, Montenegro would be able to move forward through the current process, fine. But for other countries that would not be able to, I think the gradual process would be completely possible. This is an important element for the rule of law, but also for bilateral issues, to provide significant funding beyond the financial aspect that is currently attached to the enlargement plan. To stimulate, to promote reforms. Before membership, countries would be able to receive a large part of the funding, compared to the part they would receive after membership. If a candidate country fully aligns with the EU's foreign policy, like Albania or Montenegro, and only then can the country receive a new special status as an associated member , "said Mirel./ CNA