The heads of State and Government of the European Union defended this Thursday the convenience of promoting internal changes to prepare the community bloc for an upcoming enlargement, with an eye on ensuring that it maintains its capacity for action when new member States join, while work continues on the accession treaty of Montenegro.
This is reflected in the final conclusions agreed upon by the European leaders during the European Council, where they addressed the roadmap regarding enlargement and the recent proposal from the European Commission to adapt the EU, which includes, among other points, the phased integration of candidate countries and the reduction of national vetoes by limiting unanimity.
The Twenty-Seven have "taken note" of the proposal from the community executive and emphasized that both the European Union and future member States must be "prepared at the time of accession," which is why they consider it essential for the bloc to advance in its own reforms, define "its long-term ambitions," and address issues related "to its political priorities and its capacity for action."
"This will strengthen the European Union and enhance European sovereignty," the leaders state in the conclusions, where they also emphasize that enlargement represents a "geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability, and prosperity," as well as "a driver to improve the economic and social conditions of European citizens" and reduce "the disparities between countries."
At the same time, they have stressed that the accession process must be based "on merits" and that, therefore, "each candidate country advances in its accession negotiations based on its individual progress."
The European Council has positively assessed "the ongoing work" for the preparation of the accession treaty with Montenegro, the country that is at a more advanced stage on the path to integration into the bloc.
It also takes note of the intention of the Presidency of the Council, currently held by Ireland, to strive for the provisional closure of the negotiation chapters that remain open with Podgorica, provided that Montenegro "applies the corresponding reforms."
Nevertheless, the leaders have removed in the final text the mention that appeared in a previous draft of the conclusions, which Europa Press had accessed, about the goal of closing all chapters "before the end of this year," as well as the intention to finish the drafting of the accession treaty "as soon as possible."