EU heads of state or government, including Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to decide on the official candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova. EU leaders are expected to follow a relevant recommendation from the European Commission. In contrast, the outlook for the Western Balkans is less positive.
The opponents have apparently given up their resistance: if everything goes as envisioned by the EU Commission under Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel, Ukraine will receive candidate country status for EU accession. And also the Republic of Moldova. Michel already said: “The European Council has decided to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate country status.” In other words, the 27 Heads of State or Government have already committed themselves in the run-up to the summit, the corresponding recommendation of the Commission President to follow the lines.
After the big names, namely French President Macron and the heads of government from Germany and Italy, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi, decided to go down this road, the pressure on doubters such as the Netherlands, Portugal and Austria had become too great.
Frustration in the Western Balkans and Georgia
The Caucasus Republic of Georgia, which also hopes for candidate status, will probably get nothing and will be deterred. Things also look bad for the six Western Balkan states: North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have been waiting for a long time, for decades nothing has happened to them. They even wanted to boycott the top to express their frustration. In the EU, however, there are concerns that countries could turn to others, such as China, if they continue to be deterred.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer recently emphasized Austria’s special responsibility for the Western Balkans. Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular, should also be granted candidate status. Macron has sparked an important discussion when it comes to creating an intermediate stage for applicants to introduce them to EU standards: “It could be a good model for the future.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
