Fatigued EU Downgrades Enlargement Portfolio

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October 27  

The European Commission has downgraded the position of Enlargement Commissioner, underlining that no further expansion of the 28-member club is expected in the next five years.

Gjergj Erebara
BIRN

Tirana

The President-elect of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker announced on Wednesday that the EU will not expand over the next five years.

In reflection of this, the title of Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborly Relations is being altered to Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement.

The announcement came in a speech where Juncker published the names of the members of his cabinet, underlining the importance of security and the economy for its commission.

Contrary to speculation, Juncker kept the enlargement portfolio but has decided to downgrade it in relation to neighbourhood policy.

“The European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations portfolio, under Johannes Hahn, next to a reinforced neighbourhood policy, puts the focus on the continuation of enlargement negotiations, whilst acknowledging that there will be no enlargement of the European Union for the next five years,” the Commission said.

The European Commission had a commissioner for foreign relations and European neighbourhood policy from 1995-to-1999. After 1999, there was a separate Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy.

Hahn, 57, from Austria, has previously served as Commissioner for Regional Policy.

Juncker in his speech said that the 27-member Commission would put Europe “back on the track of economic growth and create new jobs”.

“I am honoured and thrilled that the President elect has entrusted me with this important portfolio for the EU, which comprises the ample responsibilities of Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations,” Hahn said.

Hahn said that neighborhood policy was “close to his heart” but did not address concrete issues concerning expansion.

Croatia was the last country to join the European Union as its 28th member in July 2013. Another former Yugoslav republic, Slovenia, joined much earlier, in May 2004. Of the remainining ex-Yugoslav states, Montenegro and Serbia are next in line, having opened membership negotiations in 2012 and 2014.

Macedonia has been a candidate state since 2005 but has been unable to commence membership negotations owing to a dispute with EU-member Greece over its name. Neither Bosnia nor Kosovo are in the running to join the European club in the foreseeable future. Source: BalkanInsight