Meeting of European leaders in Brussels.
This is usually a routine European Council event, but this time the stakes are huge - the future of Europe for decades to come. EU leaders must decide the next stage of enlargement, the most difficult and important so far.
This concerns the fate of Ukraine, a country at war following the Russian invasion, as well as nine other candidate countries and those seeking to join. All of them are in a difficult geostrategic situation.
Never before has it been more important for the EU to make this enlargement a success. On this depends the historic opportunity to complete the unification of Europe, consolidate democracy across the continent, strengthen Europe's security and defense capabilities against the dangers of a more confrontational global order, and make it a more influential and powerful player on the world stage.
However, in taking this step, the EU must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past two decades, when too much hesitation, broken commitments and mixed messages cost us precious time in the enlargement process, delayed necessary reforms and perpetuated old divisions and disputes that undermined the security of our neighbors to the east and, ultimately, our own.
NATO promised membership to Ukraine and Georgia as early as 2008, but then failed to deliver on membership action plans or a clear timetable and roadmap.
The EU strengthened its relations with its eastern neighbors, including Ukraine, through Association Agreements and deep and comprehensive free trade zones, but at the same time denied these countries the prospect of membership it provided to the Western Balkans.
The EU's eastern neighborhood was perceived by Russia as a gray area in which Putin could constantly intervene through economic pressure and blackmail, hybrid warfare and even military action. As reflected in Russia's invasion of Georgia, illegal annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine.
Putin tried to force parts of this gray zone to integrate into the “Russian world”, denying its peoples the free choice of their destiny.
Our best defense against Russian aggression, as well as all other challenges plaguing the eastern neighborhood and the Western Balkans, is to make the NATO and EU Open Doors a more dynamic and effective tool for protecting and strengthening our democracies.
We need to stop saying that we will be ready when our neighbors are ready; and stop pretending that we are doing something and actively participating, and instead start real and meaningful EU accession negotiations with those candidate countries that have done their homework and meet the initial conditions defined by the European Commission.
It's time to make sure our actions match our words and are consistent.
To be successful, we not only need to follow the expansion process, but also build on the lessons learned from previous expansions. Much has been improved, and the beneficial changes introduced in the past need to be continued and strengthened.
For example, we realized that simply checking the boxes next to reforms and regulations adopted on paper, but not actually implemented or only partially implemented in practice, is counterproductive.
Countries that have suffered from totalitarian regimes and centrally planned economies do not easily accept the EU acquis, which consists of thousands of laws and regulations. The EU needs to monitor and help candidates better.
The use of the Track and Trace System, which was used with the last country to join, Croatia in 2013, reflected a stricter EU approach and is a model for further improvements. So does the Fundamental First approach, which must ensure that the candidate truly shares (and defends) the core values of the EU before moving on to the more technical aspects of integration.
We must also continue to set clear criteria for opening and closing various sections of the negotiation process so that candidates better understand what is expected of them and have more independence in the process.
It is also important that in the negotiation process, which could last several years, candidates who demonstrate progress are rewarded by giving them some of the benefits of true EU membership, such as access to the EU Single Market or regional and structural funds, as well as defense programs. science and technical cooperation.
In this way, candidates can remain motivated, show their populations the benefits of sometimes painful reforms, and gain confidence that the EU is serious about the prospect of their membership.
However, we cannot leave the process to just technical negotiations. Equally important is ongoing political dialogue to resolve conflicts and address common challenges such as illegal migration, energy security, climate-related extreme weather, and ensuring the security of our democracies from external political interference and hybrid warfare.
Ukraine is central and key to the entire expansion process.
If Russia wins there and the EU fails to protect the people who have shown such courage and determination in defending European values, the future of the EU will suffer an almost fatal blow.
Russia will directly threaten both NATO and the EU. And if Putin is too energetic, he could undermine the entire expansion process and bring more neighbors in the east and Western Balkans into Moscow's sphere of influence.
Now, even during the war, Kyiv continues reforms and fulfilled the conditions for opening membership negotiations. Moving forward with the EU is the best way to support the ability of the government and people of Ukraine to resist Russian aggression, along with a continued flow of arms and financial support from Europe and North America.
Aid to Ukraine is not an exercise in European charity. “Ukraine fatigue” is complacency that will be as harmful to European security as it is to Ukraine itself.
So what the European Summit says on Ukraine is not only important for the credibility of the entire enlargement process, but also for the future of the entire European integration project and its ability to deliver freedom, security and prosperity for us all.
“You'll never achieve anything unless you first overcome every possible objection” is a popular expression coined by (businessman and philanthropist) Nathan Cummings.
EU enlargement may be a strategic necessity, but we still face a long and steep road that requires patience, resilience and focus on the part of EU leaders and candidates alike.
The EU, consisting of almost 40 future countries, will not work without internal EU reform (eg in decision-making and resource allocation). The EU must show readiness for these changes, otherwise it will send a signal to candidates that the EU does not believe in enlargement, refusing to bear the consequences.
Thus, the two preparation processes (in the candidate countries and the EU itself) are of equal importance and should occur in parallel, reinforcing each other with their results.
Internal EU reform cannot be delayed until the end of the enlargement process, as this would only slow down and complicate the process.
Public opinion and national interests may see the disadvantages of admitting new members long before they see the benefits.
As happened recently with Dutch farmers and Polish truck drivers.
Leaders must be honest with themselves and their public about the challenges and trade-offs they face, and work persistently to persuade those who have doubts and build public and political support for EU enlargement.
The current generation of Europeans will be safer, but what really matters is that our children and grandchildren will also live free and secure lives.
