German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) presented proposals for a far-reaching reform of the European Union. Such reform is necessary to maintain the EU’s ability to act even after the planned accession of other countries, Baerbock told a conference of European foreign ministers in Berlin today.
Without reforms, the risk of an internal blockade of an EU that has grown to 36 or more member states will become “unmanageable”, Baerbock warned. 20 ministers from EU states and candidate countries participated in the meeting.
More decisions based on majority rule
In her speech, the German Foreign Minister presented a series of ideas with which, in her own words, she intends to start a discussion process within the EU.
Baerbock’s proposals aim to ensure that, in an enlarged EU, more decisions are taken in accordance with the majority principle, that the EU Commission and the EU Parliament do not become larger even with enlargement, that violations by states -Members, for example with regard to the rule of law, are punished more quickly and states willing to join are integrated earlier into EU decision-making processes.
As far as Ukraine was concerned, Baerbock was clearly in favor of EU membership. The same applies to Moldova, but also to the Western Balkan States.
Schallenberg: There is no substitute for full membership
In this context, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) has once again called for a gradual integration of EU membership candidates in Southeast Europe. “Gradual integration is not a substitute for full membership, it is the way to get there,” said Schallenberg.
“We must include candidates in the mobility, transport, energy and research sectors, if they have adopted our legal framework”. region.