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Austrian Minister: Albania and Montenegro, the first in the EU

2024-08-31 18:09:00, Politikë CNA
Austrian Minister: Albania and Montenegro, the first in the EU
Caroline Edtstadler. Minister of Austria

The two Balkan states Montenegro and Albania could be the first new members of the EU from the Western Balkans region by 2030.

It is the Austrian government, through the Minister for European Affairs Karoline Edtstadler, that for the first time gives time limits for Podgorica and Tirana.

"The EU must accept Montenegro and Albania as member states by 2030, with the European Commission encouraging other candidates through 'gradual enlargement'. I think there will be 29 members of the EU by 2030, with Montenegro joining in 2028 and Albania in 2030. I personally found out during the visits I made there in April how engaged and ambitious are these countries in the process of expansion. We can curb the growing nationalism in the candidate countries, especially in the Western Balkans, if we do not give incentives and this should be done through gradual integration".

Gradual enlargement means that countries seeking EU membership are offered partial benefits of membership once they meet specific conditions, rather than an all-or-nothing approach.

"I am fully convinced that this concept of gradual integration will be approved by the next European Commission, because there is no alternative but the membership process. Another incentive would be an invitation to meetings in Brussels, which would enable their politicians to inform citizens about the process. For example, when a group of chapters is fully reviewed, but full integration has not yet been achieved, the EU can allow the Balkan states at the forefront of the integration process, such as Montenegro and Albania, access to unified payments between banks. This would give them a sense of confidence going forward."

Gradual expansion has also been proposed by the future European Commissioner of Lithuania, former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius./CNA





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