EU enlargement process must be based on merit, says EU official
President of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee David McAllister has said that EU membership must be earned and cannot be accelerated.
In an interview with Euronews, McAllister said that a country can join the EU only when it is truly prepared.
He also said that the EU enlargement process is long and complex, and that it must be based on merit.
McAllister's comments come after a number of European officials have called for the EU to accelerate its enlargement process.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the EU needs to be reformed to accommodate the accession of Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
EU Council President Charles Michel has also said that the EU should be prepared to admit new members by 2030.
Euro-parliamentarian Siegfried Mureșan, who represents Romania, said that Michel's comments are a positive signal for Moldova.
Mureșan said that there is now a real chance that Moldova could begin EU accession negotiations by the end of this year.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu is also expected to make a number of foreign visits in the coming weeks to try to gain support for Moldova's EU accession bid.
She has said that the Moldovan authorities will continue to work to meet the nine conditions set by the EU for accession.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
