Interview

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Olli REHN
European Commissioner for Enlargement

Q: Enlargements of the European Union have been undeniable political and economic success stories; however, they are seen as something negative by the Europeans (and particularly by the French). How would you explain this?

R: The enlargements of 2004 and 2007 toward Central and Eastern European countries, as well as Cyprus and Malta, have been a great success for the European Union. However, they served as a scapegoat for all types of social and economic problems that appeared in Europe during the last years.
In fact, this recent enlargement cycle has actually extended the space of peace, stability and democracy of our continent and strengthened the European economy by enlarging the markets, creating new business opportunities and integrating growing economies into the Single Market.

Q: The European Union would like future accessions to be compatible with its absorption capacity. Doesn’t this criterion risk to clearly slow down, or even make the accession of « big countries » like Turkey or Ukraine impossible?

R: The European Union has to make sure that it can continue to function on behalf of its present and future citizens. In order to combine this with the strategic interest of the EU, which is to expand the space of peace, freedom and prosperity that it has created by maintaining and developing its decision and action capacity, we have consolidated the enlargement agenda in accord with the commitments that have already been made. This means that we will concentrate on south-eastern Europe – the Western Balkans and Turkey. Indeed, at this stage, we do not feel like being able to engage to further commitments. The progress of negotiations with these countries does not depend on their size, but rather on their capacity to implement the reforms that are necessary in order to guarantee that their citizens benefit from all the advantages the EU has to offer, and also on their capacity to respect all the obligations incumbent on EU member states.

Q: Is the political dialogue that has recently started between the Greek community and the Turkish community of Cyprus a turning point in the accession process of Turkey?

R: I appreciate the recent positive developments in Cyprus, like the meeting between the leaders of the two communities on the island and their commitment to take the responsibility of the future negotiations about the reunification of the island lead-managed by the United Nations.
The European Commission will strongly support a new process of the United Nations and the two communities in Cyprus trying to find a solution.
The solution of the Cyprus question will certainly lead to an improvement of the atmosphere of the accession negotiations with Turkey. Yet, Turkey has to make progress and fulfil the obligations of the Ankara Protocol.

Q: Every new accession to the EU has to be decided in unanimity by all states according to their constitutionally fixed procedure. Didn’t this make negotiations with a country like Turkey more complex, since accession can be averted by only one country?

R: New member states are admitted to the EU in a democratic process which needs an unanimous agreement between the democratically elected governments of the member states of the European Union. Afterwards the accession needs to be ratified by the member states and the candidate country according to their constitutionally fixed procedure (Parliamentary vote or referendum). Furthermore, the European Parliament’s approval is indispensable. This has been the case throughout the whole history of the EU, during which the community grew from 6 to 27 member states.

Q: Five member states oppose persistently the recognition of the independence of Kosovo, because they fear that this could be the beginning of other recognitions of new states’ independence. How do you explain these different opinions of the EU countries?

R: The Council of the European Union for external relations took note of the Assembly of Kosovo’s resolution proclaiming Kosovo’s independence.
The member states decide according to their national practices and the international law about their relations with Kosovo.
The Council reminded of the long-term commitment of the European Union to contribute to the stability of the Western Balkans and confirmed its commitment in favour of the European perspective of the whole Western Balkan region.