Stocker: Next EU Accession from the Western Balkans Long Overdue

In his speech, the Federal Chancellor underscored the strategic importance of enlargement. The question of EU enlargement is no "Nebendebatte", but concerns the security, economic strength, and credibility of the EU. The EPP should take on political leadership under the motto: "Nicht nur verwalten, sondern auch gestalten."

Gradual Integration and Institutional Involvement

Stocker once again spoke out in favor of gradual integration and also proposed involving the accession countries institutionally at an earlier stage, for example within the European agencies. The "Zukunft der Westbalkan-Staaten liegt in der EU", declared the ÖVP politician. At the same time, he warned against ignoring current challenges: The biggest mistake at present would be "die Gegenwart angesichts aktueller Krisen und Herausforderungen nicht wahrnehmen zu wollen".

The past decades of peace and prosperity had been a "Geschenk", said Stocker with a view to European integration. Austria's EU membership, too, is "wichtiger denn je" in view of current crises and challenges.

Bauer Calls for Equal Treatment of Candidates

European Affairs Minister Claudia Bauer (ÖVP) also spoke out in favor of a swift accession of Montenegro. "Wenn wir über die Zukunft der EU sprechen, müssen wir auch über die Erweiterung, die Sicherheit und Stabilität Europas sprechen", she said in her speech. A swift accession of Montenegro would be a signal both within the EU and for the other accession countries, denn dies sei sowohl ein Signal innerhalb der EU als auch für die anderen Beitrittsländer.

Bauer also called for equal treatment of EU accession candidates in the EU accession process, in particular the Western Balkan states vis-à-vis Ukraine and Moldova. "Wir brauchen Erfolgsgeschichten", said Bauer. EU enlargement has "schon viel zu lange ins Stocken geraten".

Significance of the EPP Vote on the PES

With a view to Kyiv and Chișinău, the minister explained that Austria supports the two states in the "Überwindung bilateraler Bedenken". In doing so, she referred to outstanding disputes that, from Vienna's perspective, stand in the way of both countries' rapprochement with the EU.

The EPP, as the Christian-democratic conservative party family, is the largest political group in the European Parliament. The planned admission of the PES as an associate member would formally strengthen the EPP's influence in the Western Balkans and deepen the party relations with the Montenegrin sister party.

Stocker and Bauer linked their call for enlargement with an appeal to the EPP to assume political responsibility. Die EVP solle dabei politische Führung übernehmen unter dem Motto: "Nicht nur verwalten, sondern auch gestalten." Both emphasized that the coming months will be decisive for whether Europe can preserve its credibility as an enlargement project.