The process of European Union enlargement requires a genuine commitment from its leaders. Without such commitment, indifference may prevail, and the interest of candidate countries in joining the EU may wane. This has become evident in the case of Georgia.
This opinion was expressed in a column by former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Ukrinform reports.
“Getting real about European enlargement means more than a ‘very concerned’ tweet once in a while. If the EU fails to take action now, the whole region could be lost,” the former Minister warns.
He believes that Europe is using promises of accession only as a lever of influence, which is why candidate countries now believe in this goal much less than the Baltic states did in 2004.
“Ukraine is left without a clear European timetable. Talks about decoupling Moldova and Ukraine are heard ever louder. That would be a mistake of enormous proportions,” Landsbergis claims.
He asks what will happen when it becomes clear that enlargement is not actually happening, that a European future is no longer a lever of influence that can be used.
The former Minister suggests that this could lead to a sense of alienation: “We witnessed this in Georgia. And I am increasingly worried that we might start seeing the same in Ukraine. The dismantling of the independent anticorruption bodies is a step in that direction”.
Landsbergis also called on Ukrainians, “Don’t choose the path of Georgian Dream [Georgia’s ruling party]”.
He also called on EU leaders to intervene so as not to repeat the European mistakes made in Georgia.
Landsbergis believes that Ukraine could potentially begin to lose trust in the EU and move away from European values.
A realistic approach to European enlargement means “taking a clear position when there is progress, it means declaring a timeline and a European commitment to see candidates become members,” Landsbergis wrote.
“If the EU fails to take action now, the whole region could be lost. Inspiration through strength and commitment could turn back the tide,” he believes.
As reported by Ukrinform, on July 22, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law reducing the powers of the NABU and the SAPO. This refers to draft law No. 12414 “On Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine Regarding the Specifics of Pre-trial Investigation of Criminal Offenses Related to the Disappearance of Persons Under Special Circumstances During Martial Law,” to which several amendments were made.
After the law was passed, NABU Director Semen Kryvonos called on the President not to sign it, since now “two independent institutions—NABU and SAPO—are effectively being placed under complete control.”
Later, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law.
Members of Parliament are initiating a petition and preparing a constitutional submission to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine regarding the law on restricting the powers of NABU and SAPO.
The Verkhovna Rada has prepared a bill that repeals the restrictions on the powers of NABU and SAPO provided for in the law adopted on July 22 on the peculiarities of pre-trial investigation of criminal offenses related to the disappearance of persons under special circumstances in conditions of martial law (bill No. 12414).
Source: Former Lithuanian FM: Europe's indifference can increase risk of losing countries for EU enlargement
