Slovak FM worried EU might "demotivate" hopefuls
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak has warned that the EU must not "demotivate" candidates for membership.
Tuesday, 05.01.2016.
15:13
Slovak FM worried EU might "demotivate" hopefuls
"This means we don't change the rules during the (accession) process, which must be realistic and accessible. From this point of view some of the messages from Brussels to candidate countries and those aspiring to membership are not very motivating," Lajcak said in an interview for the Slovak news agency TASR.Lajcak explained that this applies, for example, to a statement made by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that there will be no EU enlargement during the five-year mandate of the current commission.
"Anyone who knows in detail the process knows that during this EC, this will not be possible even technically. But, there are other ways to say it," according to Lajcak.
The Slovak minister also noted that the enlargement policy is crucial for the Union itself, and that it is successful, and praised candidate countries and the Western Balkans for being "very realistic, knowing they have to do their homework - and since the European integration is their strategic decision, they are not even seeking any alternative."
"They are confident they will convince us with concrete results of reforms and by introducing European standards. I've heard statements that even on the first day after those five years, they will do everything so that some of them join the Union. It seems to me that this is a very realistic approach," Lajcak said.
Slovakia will, according to this official, "devote adequate attention to the process of EU enlargement, especially the Western Balkans during its EU presidency in the second half of this year."
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