The EU should deliver on its promises to the Western Balkans before opening accession negotiations with Ukraine

The European Parliament debated the European Commission’s enlargement proposal in a plenary session on Wednesday in Brussels. MEP Kinga Gál, President of the Fidesz delegation to the European Parliament, stressed in her speech that before starting new accession negotiations, the EU must first fulfil its promises to the Western Balkans, including Serbia. In order to start accession negotiations, all countries must meet the European Commission’s basic conditions, including the guarantee of national minority rights. According to a Commission report published today, Ukraine has not yet met these requirements.

MEP Kinga Gál said that the enlargement of the European Union is a strategic and geopolitical interest, but it is not only a political issue, and the situation of the countries facing accession negotiations must be judged according to their preparedness and a common set of requirements.

“Before starting new accession negotiations, the EU must first fulfil its promises to the Western Balkans, including Serbia. The accession process towards Serbia must be completed as soon as possible, as negotiations with Serbia have been ongoing for more than 10 years without any significant progress. This discredits the EU”, the Fidesz MEP stressed.

MEP Kinga Gál added that new accession negotiations can only be opened with countries that meet the basic conditions set by the Commission. “The enlargement proposal presented today shows that Ukraine has not yet fulfilled four of the seven conditions, including the conditions on the protection of minorities. Its territory is at war and cannot hold elections. All of this shows that the country is not yet ready to start accession negotiations”, the MEP said.