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Overview on Enlargement Countries

Overview on Enlargement Countries. MGSC Luxemburg 14-15 April 2016. What about Enlargement?. Perspective of Enlargement is maintained and Enlargement Negotiations may continue, are revived, or may in some cases even be started However: No enlargement under this Commission

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Overview on Enlargement Countries

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  1. Overview on Enlargement Countries • MGSC Luxemburg • 14-15 April 2016

  2. What about Enlargement? • Perspective of Enlargement is maintained and • Enlargement Negotiations may continue, are revived, or may in some cases even be started • However: No enlargement under this Commission • Enlargement strategy adopted last year will remain valid for the whole mandate of the Juncker Commission (until 2019)

  3. What's new? • Economic Reform Programmes introduced in 2015 are now a reference for Western Balkans and Turkey. The 2016 ERPs are currently under evaluation in the Commission • Conclusions of Ecofin Council due in May 2016 • Increased importance of statistics for MIP in this context

  4. What's new? • In the process reiterated focus on fundamentals first: These are rule of law, public administration reform and economic governance and competitiveness. • Revised enlargement methodology (comparability and benchmarking) was introduced in last year's Enlargement Strategy through pilot chapters . In 2016 further finetuning and additional chapters under the new methodology. • Generally focus on readiness and state of play in addition to progress over the last year. • Plans for revised report timing as from next year.

  5. Overview by country

  6. Turkey • Turkey is strategic importance for the EU. • Key country for solving refugee crisis. • Country hosts close to 3m refugees. • Strong concerns about liberty of expression • Chapter 17 (economic and monetary policy) opened • Chapter 33 to follow • Negotiations could regain momentum through comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.

  7. Turkey • EU-Turkey deal: Refugee facility with an envelope of 3+3 (additional 3 billion € by 2018) • Implementation through direct and indirect management (to be settled) • The first two contracts have been signed with WFP and UNICEF. • In the case of Humanitarian aid, EU registered organisations will be mobilised. For the non-humanitarian assistance, the implementing partner will depend on the nature of the activity undertaken in order to maximise efficiency.

  8. Montenegro • Candidate Country since 2010 • Track record on chapter 23 and 24 remains crucial for further progress in negotiations • 22 chapters opened (among which statistics) • 2 closed • Positive example of the transformative power of the Enlargement policy

  9. Serbia • Candidate Country since 1 March 2012 • Accession negotiations launched, screening finalised • Track record on chapter 23 and 24 crucial for further progress in negotiations. • Early elections in April 2016 • EU expects Serbia to stick to its commitments and strategic goals (normalisation of relations between Belgrad and Pristina, EU-membership) • Compliant proposal on NUTS nomenclature for Serbia remains key for further progress in chapter 18

  10. former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia • Candidate Country since 2005 • Commission recommendation to open accession negotiations since 2009, but in 2015 conditional recommendation depending on the implementation of the political agreement and urgent reform priorities • Bilateral issue regarding name • Migration – EUR 49 million allocated to improve the border and migration management capabilities of the country • Early parliamentary elections in June – important to ensure conditions for credible elections, with all citizens and parties participating.

  11. Albania • Candidate Country status since 2014. • 5 priorities against which progress towards opening of negotiations will be measured: professional and de-politicised administration, impartiality of the judiciary, fight against organised crime, fight against corruption, protection of human rights • Judiciary reform to come in view of opinion of Venice Commission

  12. Bosnia-Herzegovina • Positive momentum on the reform agenda in 2015 • Stabilization and Association Agreement in force since June 2015. Essential to follow up commitments in this context. • BiH submitted application for membership on 15 February 2016. • Opinion of the Commission upon request of the Council to follow • Enlargement process key trigger for reforms in the country

  13. Kosovo * • Worrying political situation: Opposition in violent protest against government boycotting the assembly: Crucial to stick to democratic rules and stay committed to reform agenda. • SAA in force since 1 April 2016. Impetus for economy, investment and trade. • Kosovo needs to stay committed to dialogue with Belgrade and address the many challenges ahead, especially on the rule of law. • *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

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