Brussels 01.05.2024 “Twenty years ago, the European family embraced ten new Member States, a bold step that further reunified Europe, after decades of divisions following World War II. It was the biggest wave of enlargement of the EU. It was a reunification of a continent striving for freedom of all people, peace, stability and prosperity”…
Tag: Enlargement
EU 20 years Enlargement celebrations
Strasbourg 25.04.2024 During the April Plenary session in Strasbourg the MEPs, the EU and the member state representatives, and young people born 20 years ago, marked the entry into the Union of ten countries in May 2004. EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission…
EU invests in Western Balkans
Brussels 06.10.2020 Today, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, which aims to spur the long-term economic recovery of the region, support a green and digital transition, foster regional integration and convergence with the European Union. We have adopted an Economic and Investment Plan for the #WesternBalkans. It…
Macron agrees to Albania and N.Macedonia accession talks
French President Emmanuel Macron said he would agree North Macedonia and Albania to begin talks on joining the European Union if the bloc’s executive gave them a positive review next month. Good that this impasse has ended. A more united Europe is positive, but let us also make sure that “new” and “old” countries fully…
Tusks regrets EU refusal of N.Macedonia and Albania accession talks
On October 17 the EU leaders discussed the enlargement. The overwhelming majority wanted to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. However, such a decision requires unanimity, and there was no unanimity yesterday. That is why the EU will revert to this issue before the Zagreb summit in May 2020. ‘Let me be very…
Turkey remains candidate country
“I will say a word on Turkey… which remains a candidate country, a key partner and a strategically important neighbour for the European Union, also given its proximity to a very volatile Middle East, whose stability is a key priority for both of us. The Turkish government states its commitment to European Union accession but we see…
MEPs concerned with Ukrainian zoo cruelty
The January hearing of the Intergroup on the Welfare and the Conservation of Animals in Strasbourg chaired by Anja Hazekamp (NL, GUE/NGL) opened the floor with the discussion of the devastating situation of lions, and bears in Porkovsk private zoo of Igor Padalko (Ukraine, Donetsk region). .@AnjaHazekamp points out the situation of +100 animals in zoo…
Dutch Parliament blocks Albania EU accession talks
The Netherlands is blocking the opening of negotiations with Albania on joining the European Union. A majority of the House of Representatives gave a clear opinion to the upcoming meeting of European foreign ministers in Brussels on June, 25. The decision did not come as a surprise, because Dutch lawmakers have already expressed serious concerns…
MEPs stand for Schengen enlargement
The enlargement of the Schengen area to Bulgaria and Romania is in focus of the Bulgarian presidency of the EU, and the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Despite Bulgaria and Romania fulfilling the necessary criteria and repeated calls from the MEPs to let them join, the Schengen area has not been expanded to these…
Fajon: Western Balkans are Europe
Tanja FAJON MEP, the vice-chair of Socialists and Democrats group of the European Parliament, reflects upon future of Western Balkans and the EU new strategy towards the region, pointing out the necessity to keep a right balance between enhancing reform without losing a perspective of membership in view or compromising criteria. A credible enlargement perspective…
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