Krichbaum: A change in the EU accession methodology is needed

German Minister for Europe Gunther Krichbaum stressed that a change in the EU accession methodology is needed and emphasized that this is not about any kind of delay, but about achieving the goal more efficiently, namely EU membership.

At a press conference in Vienna with Austrian Minister for European Affairs Claudia Bauer, Krichbaum assessed that opening accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine is an important signal and that the decision strengthens the credibility of the enlargement process.

"I am firmly convinced that we need a change in the so-called methodology. It sounds somewhat cumbersome, but in the past, and up to the present day, the EU accession process has been organized like a high jump competition. The bar represents nothing other than the EU acquis, meaning all legislation, regulations, directives, and delegated acts. Previously, that bar was set at 1.5 meters. However, the acquis has also changed. It can no longer be compared with what it was five, ten, or 20 years ago. Just think of environmental protection, consumer protection, and many other regulations and issues. Today, the bar is at two meters," the German minister explained.

He pointed out that even the previous height of one and a half meters was too much for countries that had to "clear" that bar.

"That is why we advocate gradual enlargement and, to be completely clear, our final destination remains full membership in the European Union. This is not about any kind of delay, but about achieving this goal more efficiently, about finding a better path toward it," Krichbaum underlined.

He said that Germany wants to advocate such an approach within the EU because greater credibility needs to be built.

"When the accession process lasts ten years or more, people in countries on the European path lose faith. They no longer believe that accession is achievable. That is what we are advocating through this approach," Krichbaum stressed.

Bauer and Krichbaum also commented on the EU budget proposal, assessing that a budget for the future is needed, while the current proposal, with savings of only two percent, is, as the Austrian minister put it, "pure cosmetics."

Bauer underlined that EU member states are far from reaching a compromise on the budget.

"The burden must be distributed equally. This is not about weakening Europe, but about setting clear priorities," she stressed.

Krichbaum pointed out that it is impossible to know what will happen in 2027, when elections are scheduled in France and Poland.

He said that EU blockages are undesirable, but warned that the possibility cannot be ruled out that a candidate who is not pro-European could move into the Elysee Palace.

In an analysis published yesterday, Kosovo Online's interlocutors assessed that security challenges and greater unity within the Union have encouraged discussions about a new enlargement model. At the same time, they warned that it remains an open question whether such a concept will receive sufficient support within the EU and how it would be implemented in practice.