Austrian FM warns of “serious enlargement fatigue”

VIENNA Austrian FM Michael Spindelegger believes that a “serious enlargement fatigue” would return to the EU like a boomerang. He noted he was disappointed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s statement that the EU would not make any decisions about the beginning of accession talks with candidate states at the moment. Austrian FM warns of “serious enlargement fatigue” Vienna-based daily Die Presse writes that Merkel stressed in Bundestag on Thursday that she would advocate suspension of EU accession of new countries after Croatia joined the Union next summer. Spindelegger noted that the EU had an obligation to continue the enlargement process on condition that candidate countries implement necessary reforms, adding that “the promise needs to be kept”. He added that Turkey and Russia would otherwise try to expand their influence in the countries left outside the EU. The Western Balkans could become a victim of unresolved financial and debt crisis in the EU, Die Presse writes, adding that there is an increasing resistance to the idea of the EU enlargement in many countries. According to the daily, the prospects of EU membership for Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania can hardly remain credible. Spindelegger believes that there is a danger of a “serious enlargement fatigue that would return to Europe like a boomerang”. “Basically, arguments that the population does not want further enlargement are populist,” he told Die Presse, stressing that problems in the Western Balkans such as combat against corruption, drug and human trafficking, could only be solved with pressure from the EU. “Without membership prospects those reforms would stop,” the Austrian official said and added that this would not be in the EU’s best interest. He also believes that the growing enlargement fatigue could cause problems for Austria. The country has been advocating the accession of the Western Balkan countries for years. For example, it has invested around EUR 2.8bn since 2000 in Serbia. The EU accession of the Western Balkan countries would permanently secure the Austrian investments. Austria is backed by EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule who insists that preparations for further EU enlargement continue. Michael Spindelegger (FoNet, file) Tanjug

Austrian FM warns of “serious enlargement fatigue”

Vienna-based daily Die Presse writes that Merkel stressed in Bundestag on Thursday that she would advocate suspension of EU accession of new countries after Croatia joined the Union next summer.

Spindelegger noted that the EU had an obligation to continue the enlargement process on condition that candidate countries implement necessary reforms, adding that “the promise needs to be kept”. He added that Turkey and Russia would otherwise try to expand their influence in the countries left outside the EU.

The Western Balkans could become a victim of unresolved financial and debt crisis in the EU, Die Presse writes, adding that there is an increasing resistance to the idea of the EU enlargement in many countries.

According to the daily, the prospects of EU membership for Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania can hardly remain credible.

Spindelegger believes that there is a danger of a “serious enlargement fatigue that would return to Europe like a boomerang”.

“Basically, arguments that the population does not want further enlargement are populist,” he told Die Presse, stressing that problems in the Western Balkans such as combat against corruption, drug and human trafficking, could only be solved with pressure from the EU.

“Without membership prospects those reforms would stop,” the Austrian official said and added that this would not be in the EU’s best interest.

He also believes that the growing enlargement fatigue could cause problems for Austria. The country has been advocating the accession of the Western Balkan countries for years. For example, it has invested around EUR 2.8bn since 2000 in Serbia.

The EU accession of the Western Balkan countries would permanently secure the Austrian investments.

Austria is backed by EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule who insists that preparations for further EU enlargement continue.