The European Parliament adopted a report on 10 July on the EU’s enlargement policy, written by MEP Elmar Brok (EPP-ED, Germany). The report encourages the EU to create something between the current Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and full EU membership.
MEPs see this happening to some extent with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) to the South and the ideas for an Eastern partnership that were suggested by Poland and Sweden and have been approved by the Council. During the discussion in the plenary however, Commissioner Rehn, the enlargement commissioner, rejected this idea as it risked creating doubts among those countries that are already on the path to accession.
The report calls for a balance within the EU’s enlargement strategy, reflecting Europe’s interests, political developments around the EU and its absorption capacities. It also underlines the importance of citizens’ support for enlargement, suggesting that any future enlargement be supported by a coordinated communication policy that tells citizens about the ‘political, economic, social and cultural benefits of enlargement’.
Full text of the report: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A6-2008-0266&language=EN&mode=XML
Information provided by Rebecca Steel, TRIALOG
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