Addressing the EU-Western Balkans Summit, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola said that enlargement must happen and it will make both the European Union and the Western Balkans stronger and safer.
Dear colleagues, The European Parliament’s appeal today is simple: let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture. Enlargement is a shared journey, and the Enlargement Package published a few weeks ago shows that, overall, we’ve made solid progress. I know there is an element of frustration in this room - I share it. No accession is easy, there are many steps to fulfil and that takes time in a merit-based process. But that does not mean that you are in this journey alone. The European Parliament is strengthening cooperation with your parliaments. We’ve opened an office in Tirana for the whole region with people on the ground helping with legislative approximation - a promise I made to you last year. And we’ve adopted new tools to support you, namely the 6 billion Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans with significant funding tied to reforms. I am happy to see that our cooperation is already delivering real value: the roaming agreement, joining the Single Europe Payments Area (SEPA), the ‘WiFi for Western Balkans initiative’ - these are some of the practical changes that make people’s lives better and easier. And we need to go further. Elections in your countries often turn on the EU question. If we want to remain credible, if we want to maintain trust, people need to feel the benefits of integration today. For that, both sides need to remain fully invested. Enlargement is a win-win for all, and we cannot drag our feet. A few weeks ago, I was in Cyprus in preparation of their Council Presidency, and I am very pleased to see that enlargement is a priority of their programme. Yes, every candidate country must follow their own path to EU membership. But every milestone hit, must be met. Understanding that also means accepting our need to adapt. Our institutions, our budget, our decision-making must all be ready for a larger Union. What works today will not be enough for a Union that grows by a third. Members have adopted a report outlining the steps needed to prepare for enlargement. This is not a discussion we’re afraid to have in the European Parliament. I also think we need to do more in our own countries to address people’s concerns and explain to them why all this matters. Saying it here, among friends, is the easy part. The real challenge is outside this room. Our message should be clear: enlargement is not a distant prospect. It is real, it is within reach, it is what will make both the European Union and the Western Balkans stronger, and the Parliament is clear: it must happen. Thank you.