The bloc\u2019s enlargement commissioner has admitted that what she claimed are \u201cRussians at the gates\u201d represent her greatest fear<\/p>\n
The EU is considering\u00a0extending its reach by admitting new members but enforcing a\u00a0\u201cprobation\u201d period on them in order to ensure Brussels\u2019 values and requirements are being met, the bloc\u2019s enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, has said.
\nThe official made the remarks in an interview with the Financial Times published on Tuesday, in which she admitted that her \u2018probation\u2019 proposal is to counter her fear of \u201cRussians coming in the back door.\u201d
\nThe bloc unveiled its annual report on\u00a0aspirant and candidate\u00a0countries on Tuesday, in which Montenegro was lauded but Georgia, which put negotiations with\u00a0Brussels on hold amid Western-backed protests in the country, received an \u2018F\u2019.
\nThe EU could potentially introduce a \u201ctransition period, a kind of probation, safeguards\u201d for new members, allowing for their potential expulsion, she said. These ideas, however, are still at an early stage, Kos noted.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t want to go down as the commissioner bringing in the Trojan horses who will be then active in five, 10 or 15 years,\u201d she said, brushing off concerns that the\u00a0idea would result in a \u201ctwo-tier\u201d EU membership.
\nThe new approach would likely mean tougher requirements for candidates, including Ukraine and Moldova which have been bundled together in what Kos admitted is an\u00a0\u201cartificial\u201d move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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EU could betray core principle for sake of Ukraine \u2013 Politico<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch more important is really going through the reforms. And there is a lot to do with both countries, Ukraine and Moldova,\u201d she said.
\nThe bloc\u2019s increasingly cautious approach to accepting new members has been reflected in the enlargement report, which stated that it remains committed \u201cto ensuring both the readiness of aspiring members as well as the EU\u2019s preparedness to welcome them.\u201d
\n\u201cTo ensure that new Member States continue to safeguard and maintain their track record on the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights, future Accession Treaties should contain stronger safeguards against backsliding on commitments made during the accession negotiations,\u201d the report reads.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The bloc\u2019s enlargement commissioner has admitted that what she claimed are \u201cRussians at the gates\u201d represent her greatest fear The EU is considering\u00a0extending its reach by admitting new members but…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21875,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t