IEP Lunch Debate with Olli Rehn: “Don’t Make EU Englargement a Scapegoat!”
The Enlargement Success Story
Rehn delivered a clear rejection to all those who call for a slowing or even a complete stop to EU enlargement. The new members and accession candidates cannot become the scapegoats of the economic malaise and the constitutional crisis in the EU! In this context, Rehn emphasized that, in the past, enlargement has been the most successful instrument of the EU in guaranteeing security. Enlargement reflects the essence of EU soft power, which extends the zone of peace, stability, freedom and democracy over the entire continent. On the other hand, the concerns, which were also expressed in part in the referenda on the constitution, need to be taken very seriously and need to be reflected in the work program of the EU. In order to continue writing the enlargement success story, the Commission has developed a plan, whose key terms are consolidation, conditionality and communication.
The consolidation of the EU requires that the EU deliver no more accession promises to third countries beyond the commitments into which it has already entered. “The enlargement agenda is reaching its limits.” At the same time, Rehn sent a clear message to Romania and Bulgaria that they will only accede in 2007 insofar as they have fulfilled all membership criteria. Deficits in the reform of the judiciary and the fight against corruption must quickly be overcome. The EU likewise stands by its word that negotiations with Croatia will only be opened after the government in Zagreb cooperates to the full extent with the International War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The accession perspective for the remaining countries of the Western Balkans must be maintained. In the case of Turkey, three central requirements for opening negotiations must be fulfilled: First, the signing of a protocol for the expansion of the Ankara Agreement to the 10 new member states, essentially meaning the recognition of Cyprus; second, the entry into force of six laws, mainly in the area of criminal justice; and third, the improvement of the political situation, especially the forceful continuation of the zero-tolerance policy toward torture and maltreatment.
Strict Oversight of all Accession Criteria
Conditionality aims at strictly overseeing fulfillment of the accession criteria during the association and negotiation process, especially concerning the actual implementation of the EU acquis in the applicant country. The Copenhagen Criteria shall remain the standard of measurement and to which the EU absorption criteria also belongs. In the course of the next rounds of enlargement, the EU must also be in a position to maintain the momentum of European integration. A lesson from the previous enlargement is that special protection clauses were built into the accession treaty for Romania and Bulgaria. Rehn let there be no doubt that he will recommend to postpone the effective accession for one year if deficits in central areas, such as competition policy or prosecution of cases of gross corruption, are not resolved.
Dialogue Offensive – Better Including Union Citizens
The third key term is communication: First, the “enlargement success story” should be better communicated. In the future, the EU will lead an intensive dialogue with and between the Union citizens and citizens of candidate countries on the perspectives and also the problems and requirements of enlargement. In addition to EU institutions, member states, think tanks and other civil society organizations and actors should be able to participate. Rehn showed his satisfaction with the fact that the significant enlargement of ten countries has proceeded smoothly and to the advantage of all. There has been neither blockades of decisions in the Council nor serious disruptions in the labor market or other sectors. The goal of the dialogue offensive is an objectification of the debate so that one once again sees the realities and the chances that enlargement signifies for a strongly integrated community in the age of globalization. In this regard, Rehn emphasized that the costs of non-enlargement would be much higher than the costs of a fair and responsibly conducted process of accession negotiations with the current candidates.
Timetable for Turkey Negotiations Ready
Rehn especially made clear the eminent strategic and geopolitical meaning of enlargement with reference to Turkey. The EU has a sustainable interest in a stable, democratic and prospering Turkey that shares values, legal norms and standards with the EU. Thus, in order to promote a transformation in Turkey, a credible accession perspective for Ankara is indispensable. Rehn was confident that the Council would hold to its 3 October 2005 date for the opening of negotiations with Turkey. On the idea of a privileged partnership, Rehn noted that the Commission orients its work to the political guidelines of the European Council, where the declared goal is to negotiate with Turkey on accession and not on other alternatives. Only if the European Council sets a different parameter would the assignment of tasks change for the Commission. Rehn conceded however that the discussion on a privileged partnership in political circles and the public would continue during the coming months and possibly years. He identified the framework for negotiation developed by the Commission for Turkey as the most rigorous that have ever formed the basis of accession negotiations. The Commission will do everything to ensure that the negotiation process proceeds transparently and fairly. Rehn confirmed that the result of the negotiations remains open. That, in the end, the accession might not succeed is principally conceivable in two scenarios: First, if Turkey does not fulfill the accession criteria, and the second, though very theoretical, possibility, is if the EU is not sufficiently prepared for enlargement. The latter, said Rehn, must be prevented under all circumstances though a sufficiently deep reform of the EU!
Presseberichte:
“Pushing the boundaries” in Financial Times, 03/04. September 2005
“Brüssel hält an Türkei-Zeitplan fest — EU-Kommissar erwartet Zustimmung aller Staaten für Gespräche ab Oktober” in Der Tagesspiegel, 13. Juli 2005, S. 5.
“Bulgaria and Romania urged to speed reforms” in International Harald Tribune, 13. Juli 2005 S.1
By: Barbara Lippert
