Strengthening Southern Europe as important as Eastern Europe in EU accession talks – Austrian FM
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EU leaders should not favor Ukraine over the Western Balkans when deciding whether to approve the countries' accession talks next month, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in a comment to the Financial Times on Nov. 23.
The diplomat emphasized the importance of "anchoring" both Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina "in the EU’s orbit" to counter Russian influence.
Strengthening stability in both regions – Eastern and Southeastern Europe – is equally important, Schallenberg stressed.
"Our geostrategic seismograph is kicking out in both directions," he said.
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If the European Commission were to look at the Western Balkans "with a magnifying glass" and Ukraine "with rose-tinted glasses," it would be a "geostrategic disaster," the politician argued, adding that "you cannot have certain groups on the fast lane, others on service lane."
Schallenberg is reportedly a strong advocate of gradual EU enlargement, in which candidate countries must integrate into the bloc's sectoral programs and policies before full membership. According to him, the EU needs a different approach than during the previous waves of enlargement in 2004, 2007 and 2013, when only the question of “in or out” was considered.
The European Commission recommended on Nov. 8 to begin negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the EU. EC President Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine had completed "more than 90%" of the necessary steps outlined by the European Commission in 2022, especially lauding judicial reforms and efforts to fight corruption.
Read also: European Parliament to open office in Kyiv — report
Brussels expects Ukraine and Moldova to complete the reforms by March 2024.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also officially received the EC's report on the recommendation to start negotiations from the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova.
In mid-December, the European Council is to decide whether to start membership talks with Ukraine.
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