Brussels: A discussion titled 'The Strategic Importance of EU Enlargement in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape' was held on Tuesday as part of the Cyprus Forum, hosted at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the European Union in Brussels. Speakers emphasized that the enlargement of the European Union is a geostrategic necessity that enhances security and stability across the continent.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Nektaria Kakoutsi, Enlargement Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU, highlighted the significance of EU enlargement amid the current political environment. She noted the increasing competition among major powers and multiple overlapping crises facing the European Union. Kakoutsi stressed the need for the EU to develop strategic autonomy and respond effectively to crises while maintaining cooperation with its allies.
Kakoutsi explained that enlargement involves the accession of new countries to the EU, providing them with stability, security, and a values-based system. She pointed out that ten candidate partners, including Ukraine, are closely following developments, and the Western Balkans have been waiting for approximately two decades.
Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), stated that EU enlargement is a necessary process, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to EU values and performance-based criteria by candidate countries. He noted that the accession process for the first group of candidates is relatively straightforward due to existing methodologies.
Koopman stressed that accession must be based on alignment with EU values and policies, particularly in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. He highlighted the importance of public and member states' support for the successful ratification of accession treaties.
Oksana Diakun, Deputy Head of Mission of Ukraine to the EU, emphasized Ukraine's critical role in European security and the EU's geostrategic stability. She expressed appreciation for the Cypriot Presidency's focus on enlargement, noting that enlargement is a geostrategic necessity for the EU and candidate countries. Diakun stressed that Ukraine's accession is linked to the EU's strategic autonomy and food security.
Petar Markovic, Ambassador of Montenegro to the EU, stressed the inevitability of EU enlargement, emphasizing the need for a process that respects meritocracy while considering geopolitical realities. He advocated for a sustainable, multi-layered, merit-based process that strengthens the Union.
Ian Lesser, Distinguished Fellow and Adviser to the President at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, highlighted the strategic environment's importance for Europe. He warned of the costs of inaction, noting that failure to make decisions allows space for actors like Russia and China, leading to a less benign strategic environment.