Status: 02.06.2022 6:38 p.m
Because of the Ukraine war, Foreign Minister Baerbock wants to take further steps towards EU enlargement. Although she did not explicitly call for candidate status for Kyiv, she gave a clear signal.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a more specific statement on Ukraine’s future prospects in the European Union. Asked about EU candidate status in the near future, she said at the WDR-Europaforum: “We are now at a historic milestone, and for me that means that we cannot proceed according to the formula, but that we have to realize that it is a historic moment.”
Tina Hassel, WDR, in conversation with Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock as part of the Europe Forum
tagesschau24 6:00 p.m., 2.6.2022
On the one hand, that means “finally opening accession negotiations” for North Macedonia and Albania. Baerbock does not explicitly call for candidate status for Ukraine, and yet her words sound like a clear signal: “It’s not enough to say: Yes, you belong to Europe – you belong in the European Union.”
The German Foreign Minister still does not see a quick accession. There should be “no discount”: “But at this moment we as the European Union must set the course so that we don’t close the door in their face.”
Improve the EU’s ability to act
The Greens politician also commented on the EU’s ability to act WDR-Europe Forum. Hungary had recently blocked the sixth sanctions package. In the EU, in the area of foreign and security policy, decisions must be taken unanimously. Baerbock, but also French President Emmanuel Macron, have long been calling for this principle to be lifted. In order to achieve this, the EU treaties do not need to be changed, but a unanimous decision is needed, which is not in sight.
Baerbock’s wish is “to be creative”. Baerbock sees one way in using the instrument of enhanced cooperation, which individual EU states can use to move forward together. This should be used in foreign and security policy if unanimity does not work. Germany has, according to Baerbock WDR-European Forum, now a different role: “We will not make a foreign policy where we hold back, but move forward together with others.”