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34 I Southeast Europe bne March 2020
European Commission proposes new negotiation rules for EU accession countries
through a stronger focus on fundamental reforms, starting with the rule of
law, the functioning of democratic institutions and public administration
as well as the economies of the candidate countries.
“When partner countries meet the objective criteria, the member states shall agree to move forward to the next stage of the process, respecting the merits- based approach,” the document said.
Under the new methodology, member states should be involved more systematically in monitoring and reviewing the process.
To inject further dynamism into the negotiating process, the Commission proposes to group the negotiating chapters in six thematic clusters: fundamentals, internal market, competitiveness and inclusive growth, green agenda and sustainable connectivity, resources, agriculture and cohesion as well as external relations.
“Negotiations on the fundamentals will be open first and closed last and the progress on these will determine the overall pace of negotiations,” it said.
To encourage demanding reforms,
the Commission will better define the conditions set for candidates to progress and will provide clear and tangible incentives of direct interest to citizens.
The Commission will make clearer what positive consequences progress on reforms can bring, and what the
Valentina Dimitrievska in Skopje
The European Commission presented a new enlargement methodology on February 5 with the aim of better supporting reforms in potential members of the European Union through the clustering of chapters, clearer criteria, and
a stronger political steer.
The new plan was initiated by France after the French President Emmanuel Macron vetoed the start of EU negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last October, seeking a new approach to the enlargement process.
The new methodology titled “Enhancing the Accession Process – A Credible EU Perspective For The Western Balkans” will apply for North Macedonia and Albania and future applicants. Montenegro
and Serbia, which are already holding negotiations with the EU, will have to decide if they want to accept negotiations under the new methodology.
The new approach is intended to make the EU accession process more
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credible, more dynamic and predictable, according to European Commission officials.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on February 5 that EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is a top priority for the Commission.
Varhelyi explained that the European Commission is working on three tracks: concrete steps on how to enhance the
“When partner countries meet the objective criteria, the member states shall agree to move forward to the next stage of the process”
accession process, opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, and proposing an economic plan for the region during the upcoming May summit in Zagreb.
The Commission noted that credibility in the process should be reinforced
negative consequences will be when there is no progress.
The more candidates advance in their reforms, the more they will advance in the accession process. Conversely, the Commission proposes more decisive measures sanctioning any serious or