“It is absurd that the EU does not accelerate”

You believe that “procrastinating” can turn against you and generate “difficulties”

BRUSSELS, Oct. 25 () –

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, considers it “absurd that the EU does not accelerate” the EU enlargement process to be able to integrate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkans on the horizon of 2030 since he considers that the bloc ” “is interested in not letting those countries enter a gray zone while others try to destabilize the EU, its values ​​and principles.”

“The longer we delay, the more we will allow others to use our delay to put us in difficulties,” he said in an interview with Europa Press together with other European agencies in the ‘European Newsroom’, in which he warned of the dangers that ” procrastinating” in this area may imply for the Union and attempts to “destabilize” it.

Aware of the challenges that accession entails and that there remain “homework to be done” by both the EU and the candidate countries, Michel has guaranteed that he remains “absolutely convinced and more than ever, due to the latest advances” that Expansion must be a reality in 2030.

“We know that there will be consequences, even in terms of financial security or in terms of the decision-making process,” acknowledged Michel, who will leave the position he has held since 2019 on November 30 and will pass into the hands of the former prime minister. from Portugal António Costa.

Asked about the reforms that the EU must undertake in view of its enlargement and about the decision-making process that requires the unanimity of the Council, Michel defended that seeking consensus is what guarantees a “united position” of the leaders.

This requirement, which grants the possibility of veto, worries some member states about the possibility of countries like Hungary blocking agreements, but the president of the European Council believes that it is an essential condition to prevent “division from becoming the new normal.” “.

“It is very common to consider that consensus can be a problem, but if we rush and move away from the principle of unanimity, the risk may be that we do not make the necessary effort to build a united position,” he explained.

Michel has admitted that it is a “sometimes demanding” process and that “sometimes it takes too much time”, but he emphasizes that it is the way to “integrate all sensitivities into a common position” and that to avoid a possible case of “abuse of the right of veto”, leaders must ensure that, “when the main national interests are in danger, formulas can be found to maintain the idea that unanimity is necessary to be stronger and more powerful.”