The EU is preparing a ‘grand proposal’ for enlargement

The European Commission plans to make a “major proposal” for EU enlargement in October this year. This is what European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Vargei said, Euractiv reports on Friday, September 1.

“The question is always: do we want to do it? And this is the first time I’ve heard from the European Council that they want to do it – it’s welcome,” he said.

Asked if European Council President Charles Michel’s aim was to expand the bloc by 2030, Varhelyi said “everything we want to do as an EU can be done” but stressed there was no need to insist on a specific timetable.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of dates. It’s a matter of political will and implementation on the part of the EU and on the part of our partner countries in the Western Balkans or the other three candidate countries (Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia , – ed.),” said the Commissioner.

Varghei announced that in October, when the European Commission is expected to present its annual progress reports for all countries in the bloc’s accession process, EU executives will make a “big proposal” .

“We are ready to come up with even bold proposals – new ones – and with new ideas,” stressed Vargei.

The plans will mainly include the Growth Plan, already announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in May, in which the EU aims to boost investment in the Western Balkans, as well as a plan to alleviate the economic impact of the war of Russia, he said. .

“This plan will accelerate not only the institutional, but also the real integration of these countries in the EU,” concluded Vargei.

Earlier it became known that Ukraine has the opportunity to start negotiations on joining the European Union in the winter. But for this, Ukraine and the EU still have a lot to do.