Varhely: EU Enlargement Will Return

Comments came after EU leaders in June granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova as a signal of solidarity in response to Russian aggression and member states in July sparked the green light for starting delayed membership talks with Albania and Northern Macedonia.

The fight between Russia and Ukraine cleared up the debate over the EU enlargement process and showed the need to speed up procedures, which were essentially stopped by the previous Commission, Varhely said in an interview for Brussels' Euractiv portal.

We Europeans now not only understand it but are also willing to fulfill it, Europe will not enjoy security, stability and prosperity without the full integration of the Western Balkans”, he said.

According to him, there has been little desire for enlargement within the EU in recent years, and some member states have called for EU reforms prior to the accession of new members.

Remember, we received (mandatin) from the European Commission, which said “not extension” The damage became”, Varhely said, adding that in the second half of his mandate, Commissioner Juncker realized it was a strategic mistake.

He said there is now a clear political will that has not always been visible.

“Perhaps is the only positive impact of Russia's war in Ukraine, because it clarified the discussion about enlargement as well as the absorption capacity of the EU,” said Varhely.

What I expect now, and what will be a great responsibility for the European Commission, is that there is now a clear political will, which was not always visible. ”

Asked about French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal for a European Political Community, which would strengthen the bloc's ties with non-states. The EU in its nearby neighbourhood, Varhelyi said only that this “could add another layer”.

The Hungarian commissioner said Europe lacks a proper political platform to engage with candidate countries “but also with its neighbours, where Europe is able to speak with its allies and partners and to exchange and engage in a much more intensive way”.

In the past, when Hungary or Poland were candidate countries, they were invited to the second day of EU summits, which is “very much in the memory of our Western Balkan friends”.

“They feel involved and their involvement would also mean that they know much more about our processes, which would create much more ownership to be engaged quickly in many areas,” he added.

Asked whether he would see any danger of further obstacles on the line, Varhely said the goal has been to create “creating clear, fair and transparent criteria that are also manageable and that can really change negativeism from both sides”.

At the same time, he noted that “Albania has shown true solidarity with northern Macedonia and maturity to realise that our member states want the two countries to move ahead of”, but said Albania can now continue on its own.

“Now we have to work very hard with candidate countries so that they can accelerate their preparations and their real integration,” said Varhely.

The strategic importance of nearby EU neighbourhood has increased since Russia invaded Ukraine, fearing Moscow's influence in the region.

The rules are very clear wherever we see them, not only in the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership, but also, for example, in Libya it is everywhere,” said Varhely, adding that the EU should make very clear in their contact with the Western Balkans “that only Europe can bring peace, stability and long-term security”.

“Russia has proven this point to us perfectly with the war in Ukraine, because the immediate reaction in the Balkans was ʹ this is dangerous and this could spread to us”, he said.