Brussels Delivers Stark assessment of EU Hopefuls, Cites Security Risksโ and Rule of Law Concerns
Brusselsโ – The European Union issued a comprehensiveโข report today evaluating the โprogressโ of candidate member states, delivering a mix of praise andโฃ pointed criticism. The assessment highlights security concerns regarding Serbia‘s passport issuance to Russian citizens, notable setbacks for Georgia’s EU aspirations, and โคongoing rule of lawโข challenges for Ukraine,โ even as it continuesโ to fight a war.
The EU flagged Serbia’s practice of granting passportsโ to Russian citizens as a “potential security risk,” noting that aโข Serbian passport provides visa-free travel. EU officials expressed deep concern over Georgia’s trajectory, โขstating the country is “only considered a candidate country in name,” โaccording to EU official Kos. “Probably neverโข before hasโ there been so much talk about decline in an โฃenlargement report,” kos added. EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski underscored the severity of the situation, stating in Tbilisi, “Georgia is โขnot on track to join the EU, either in 2030 or beyond.” Demonstrations have erupted in Georgia followingโฃ the ruling Georgian dream party’s decision to suspend accession talks, โwith citizens demanding a European future, a โsentiment Kos affirmed they โคsupport.
Despite the ongoing war,Ukraine has been lauded for its “commitment to the European path” and for undertaking “far-reaching reforms” unprecedented for a nation at war,according to EU Commissioner Kallas. However, the EU cautioned that Ukraine must accelerate reforms, particularly concerning the rule of law. A controversial law passed this summer limiting the independenceโข of key anti-corruption bodies drew criticism, with the EU warning it “castโ doubt on Ukraine’s commitment to the anti-corruption agenda.” โขFollowing protests andโ EU pressure, Ukrainian President Zelensky reversed the decision.
Theโฃ report comes as the EU re-evaluates its expansion strategy in light of Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine. Croatiaโข joined the EU in 2013 and remains its youngest member. Kallas emphasized the urgency of expansion, framing โit as a “geopolitical investment” and stating, “Expansion is not ‘nice to have‘, but a necessity if we want to โขbe a stronger player โฃon the world stage.”โค Several candidate countries, including โSerbia, Georgia, andโ Moldova, are situated within Russia’s sphere of influence, adding to the strategic importance of the EU’s enlargement process.
