Commissioner Várhelyi presents 2020 Enlargement package to MEPs

he rule of law and good neighbourly relations will remain the guiding principles of further EU integration, says Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister.

The Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi presented the 2020 Enlargement package to the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) today, providing an overview of the state of play of fundamental reforms and guidance on these reform priorities in the candidate countries and potential candidates.

For all the countries in the region the future lays in the EU, stressed Olivér Várhelyi presenting the package that was adopted shortly before by the College of the Commissioners. Commissioner Várhelyi also unveiled the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans that should stimulate the long-term recovery, boost economic growth and support reforms in the region in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Economic convergence and investment plan

Economic convergence with the EU will be biggest challenge in the region, and the COVID-19 crisis made this only clearer, he said. The EU is focusing now on the long-term recovery of the region, as there is an enormous gap in terms of the economic development between the Western Balkans and the EU. The region is well below the 50 % in terms of GDP development compared to the EU average, said Comissioner Várhelyi.

Subject to the adoption of the 2021-2027 Multi-annual Financial Framework and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), the Commission proposes to mobilise up to 9 billion euros of IPA III funding for the flagship projects of the Economic and Investment Plan. This should support economic convergence with the EU primarily through investments and support to competitiveness and inclusive growth, sustainable connectivity, and the twin green and digital transition, it was announced.

Besides, the investment capacity of the region should be boosted additionally by the mobilisation of a new Western Balkans Guarantee facility, which could potentially raise investments of up to 20 billion euros, announced Commissioner Varhelyi.

Investment plans will mainly focus on sustainable transport, clean energy, environment and climate, with air pollution being the key concern. Digital future and ultrafast broadband connections are also priorities, sad the Commissioner and special attention will be given to tackling brain drain, by improving labour market participation, especially of young people and women, disadvantaged groups and minorities, in particular Roma.

The rule of law as a guiding principle

In the discussion that followed the presentation, MEPs wanted to know more about the progress in the rule of law, fight against crime and corruption and tackling migration issues in the Western Balkans, as well as the way in which the EU can ensure conditionality of its financial support. Many were critical about the behaviour of Turkey and its status as a candidate for EU accession. They were also concerned about the backsliding in the area of the rule of law in Serbia and the recent amending of the electoral law in Albania.

The Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister (EPP, DE) welcomed the 2020 Commission’s assessment: „The rule of law and good neighbourly relations will remain the guiding principles of further EU integration, which must be based on a rigorous conditionality, applied both to the membership talks and the Union funding. With an appropriate level of funding, the Economic and Investment Plan has a potential to foster long-term growth and jobs that the region needs. The Foreign Affairs Committee has always underlined that the enlargement policy should continue to be the priority for the EU and that we should give real incentives and support to countries who have delivered on reforms.”

Mr McAllister announced that in the coming months, the Committee´s standing rapporteurs will prepare the European Parliament’s position on the situation in the seven enlargement countries and .the Committee will continue the interinstitutional negotiations on the IPA III Regulation, which will govern the pre-accession assistance during the next financing period (2021-2027).

Background

Each year, the Commission adopts its “Enlargement package”, a set of documents explaining its policy on EU enlargement. The package includes a Communication on enlargement, which sets out the way forward for countries aspiring to join the EU. It also contains the reports in which the Commission presents its detailed assessment of the progress each candidate and potential candidate has made in fulfilling the criteria for membership.

The European Council agreed on opening the accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia in March 2020. Montenegro started accession negotiations in 2012 and Serbia in 2014, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidates.

The negotiations with Turkey started in 2005, but since the country has been backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights, the General Affairs Council decided in June 2018 to freeze accession negotiations with Turkey.

The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is the main funding tool used by the EU to support reforms in the ‚enlargement countries‘. The third generation of this financing instrument is currently being negotiated between co-legislators

The final documents will be published in the institutional database EUR-Lex and on DG NEAR’s website.