First of all, the enlargement process must be based on merits. Therefore, it must be based on the reforms carried out by these countries, – the French Minister for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddadi, said at the Warsaw Security Forum – “The Next Enlargement Chapter”.
He said that reforms must continue regardless of whether the enlargement process is moving forward or not.
“Reforms must continue regardless of everything. You know, you cannot say that because you do not see progress immediately in terms of the process, you will stop the reforms, because the reforms themselves are good and they are good for the country regardless of whether the enlargement process starts immediately or not,” – Benjamin Haddad noted.
He said that the EU must find ways to put pressure on Hungary and those countries that are obstructing the enlargement process.
“It is clear to me that at a time when many people in Europe may be tired of the European Union, you just have to go to Ukraine, to Moldova, to the streets of Georgia, where children are being targeted because they are waving European flags, as happened on the Maidan 11 years ago, to the Western Balkans, where countries are moving forward with reforms. You see that the spirit of Europe is sometimes more present in the candidate countries than in the offices in Brussels. I think this is an incentive and an inspiration for us and a reminder that if you are cynical about the European Union, you have people who are actually risking their lives trying to join this family. Therefore, we must find ways and put pressure on Hungary and on the countries that are attacking this process,” Benjamin Haddad noted.
Benjamin Haddad: You have to go to Ukraine, Moldova, the streets of Georgia, where children are targeted for waving European flags – you see that the spirit of Europe is sometimes more present in the candidate countries than in the offices in Brussels
