President of Portugal: The next enlargement of the European Union could be the most important in the history of the community bloc
The next enlargement of the European Union could be the most important in the history of the community bloc, the president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, told Moldova 1 TV. According to the official, this process involves changes both in the candidate countries and in the European Union, and they are vital to security and peace in the region.
"My answer is: yes, it is a must! We must achieve this enlargement because it is vital for peace and security in Europe. Of course, this implies changes both in the candidate countries and in the European Union. It is one thing when there are 27 member states in the EU and another thing is the EU with 30 member states or 33 or 34 or 36. Everything will depend on who the candidates are. That means it took time, because the European Union has to prepare itself for this step. The expansion to the East was the result of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, which means the need to face a new situation in Eastern Europe", emphasized Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
We remind that, on Wednesday, November 8, the European Commission adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, which provides a detailed assessment of the current state and the progress made by the 6 countries of the Western Balkans, Turkey and, for the first time, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia in the process of joining the European Union.
Thus, following the report, the European Executive recommended the European Council to start accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the community block. Also, Georgia obtained the status of a candidate country for the European Union. The final decision on the start of negotiations will be taken by the member states at the European Council meeting on December 14-15.
