The European Commission publishes the 2019 Package on the Enlargement of the European Union

Met dank overgenomen van Roemeens voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2019 (Roemeens voorzitterschap) i, gepubliceerd op woensdag 29 mei 2019.

The Ministry of External Affairs welcomes the Annual Package on the Enlargement of the European Union, published by the European Commission on May 29, 2019. The Communication from the Commission reconfirms the Union’s commitment towards advancing the enlargement policy, based on the merits of the candidate and potential candidate countries - a goal that aligns with the special importance attached by Romania, while having the Presidency of the Council of the EU, to this EU policy that has proven successful and has created added value.

In that context, the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU welcomes the latest Enlargement Package published under the current mandate, through which the current European Commission contributes to keeping the enlargement policy at the top of the European agenda and to supporting the partner countries in taking the necessary steps forward in this process.

As holder of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Romania shares the approach taken by the European Commission on the transformative role of the European perspective and on the role of the enlargement policy as a long-term investment in safeguarding peace, stability, economic growth and security in Europe. Romania particularly welcomes the emphasis of the Commission, as presented in the 2019 Enlargement Package, on the fact that the enlargement policy safeguards the Union’s own political, security and economic interests and that the Union must live up to its commitments in order to consolidate the sustainability of the positive processes that have been taking place in the entire region.

The enlargement policy is a constant priority pursued by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU in its external action efforts. It is also reflected in its Work Programme, as the most effective instrument that has succeeded in spreading the European values in the EU neighbourhood along the years. The European Commission is an important partner of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU in promoting this file, in order to achieve the objectives related to the partner countries in the region.

One of the most outstanding developments of the last year, as highlighted in the Communication from the Commission, is the historic Prespa Agreement, concluded between the Republic of North Macedonia and Greece, which is testimony to the power of attraction of the European perspective, which makes it possible to advance towards a stable and prosperous common future. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU supports the need to build on those historic developments and expand their positive effect to the entire region, by moving to the next step, namely that of using the negotiation instruments specific to EU accession.

To that end, the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU welcomes as a positive signal the European Commission’s recommendation on opening EU accession negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania, while it rests with the Member States to decide thereon in the Council.

The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU will continue to pursue the adoption of the Council Conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process, based on the recommendations of the European Commission and in line with the decisions adopted in the GAC of June 26, 2018, aiming at making progress and facilitating the political decisions on the enlargement partner countries.