Status: 06/20/2022 12:20 p.m
At the meeting with her EU colleagues, Federal Foreign Minister Baerbock once again called for Ukraine and Moldova to be made candidate countries. A decision will be made at the end of the week – the federal government is expecting a positive vote.
At the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock advocated concrete EU membership prospects for Ukraine. “It is now important not to proceed according to scheme F, but to use this historic moment and make it clear to Ukraine that you belong in the middle of the European Union,” said the Green politician. The challenges and tasks for the accession process are “incredibly great”. But nobody wants you to look back in a few years and say: “How could we not use this course?”
Abolish the EU unanimity principle
Baerbock also supported the EU Commission’s proposal to also appoint the small neighboring country of Moldova as an EU accession candidate. The government there not only does everything possible to live European values in their own country, but also supports Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia.
With a view to possible EU expansion, Baerbock spoke out in favor of adapting decision-making processes in the community. “Now it’s not just about putting more chairs in the European circle,” she said. In the future, that means moving away from the principle of unanimity and towards majority decisions in foreign and security policy too, so that we have the strength to defend European values in the years to come.
Federal government expects positive decision
On Friday, the EU Commission recommended officially nominating Ukraine and Moldova as candidates for accession to the European Union. The governments of the 27 EU countries must now decide on candidate status at a summit at the end of the week. The federal government expects approval there. It looks good that the EU-27 will follow the EU Commission’s recommendation at their meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, said government representatives in Berlin.
Prospects for the Western Balkans required
At the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, other politicians made similar statements to Baerbock. “The EU is ready to take in neighbors who want to join,” said foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Luxembourg.
However, Austria ties its approval to progress in the accession process of the Western Balkan countries. “We must not give the impression that there is a two-class society,” warned Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. His country expects “at the EU summit a clear signal to the east, but also to the south-east”.
The impression should not be given that Ukraine and Moldova are “in the fast lane”. He pointed out that North Macedonia has been a candidate for membership for 17 years and that Albania is also waiting for accession talks to begin. Most recently, Bulgaria blocked the process in the dispute over minority rights.