9 minutes agoWho will succeed Hahn as the Commissioner for Enlargement and Good Neighbor?
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)With the appointment of Ursula Von Der Leenen at the helm of the European Commission, the way has been opened for the appointment of new European Union commissioners. For Kosovo and the Western Balkans as a whole, the name of the person who will replace Austrian Johannes Hahn is expected at the helm of the Enlargement Commission. Slovenia and Hungary are [...]
Slovenia and Hungary are two states near the Western Balkans and have made public the candidacy for the post.
Ljubljana has proposed the name of Janez Lennarzič, chairman of the EU delegation, as the new chairman of this commission, while Budapest comes under the name of László Trócsányi, former Justice Minister and currently member of the European Parliament. But in the race that has started between the two neighbouring states, Slovenia seems to be the most favoured, and for many reasons.
Victor Orban's government is in constant conflict with Brussels institutions, which often accuse him of lack of democracy and freedom. The Commissioner for Enlargement's task focuses mainly on continued work with Balkan countries aiming to become part of the EU, and for this they must meet many criteria related to rule of law and power sharing, while Hungary is not considered the model state within the EU in these respects.
But it is not only that it penalises Hungary in front of Slovenia. After 2007, an unwritten rule has been established in the EU that the Commissioner for Enlargement must come from a state that is not neighbouring with candidate states to join the EU.
This is done to avoid advantages in cases of conflicts that the member state can take over the candidate state. And Hungary is a neighbouring state with Serbia, which has started membership negotiations. As for Slovenia, it shares the border only with EU member states. For that reason, states such as Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania or Greece have emerged from the race.
But although ʹbetaja was currently focused between Slovenia and Hungary, the situation could change if other states show ambitions to take the lead in the Enlargement Commission.
Slovakia in Central Europe or any of the Baltic states are considered potential to enter the race.
