On Preconditions for Continuance of EU Enlargement Process

Appointment of Austrian national Johannes Hahn to the position of European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and EU Enlargement Negotiations has fulfilled only formal precondition for further enlargement of the EU, but the real significance of the position has yet to be seen, said in a statement to FENA an analyst and director of the Research Center Populari Alida Vračić.

“Speculations about the enlargement and its significance for the new lineup of the Commission have marked the past few months.

Criticisms that have been addressed certainly had its effect, and the first step has been made. Whether the essential ideas would continue, will be the subject of many future discussions in the Commission,” considers Vračić.

Hahn will take over his duty on 1st November after the appointment is confirmed by the European Parliament.

He will be responsible for relations with countries outside the European Union, including the Balkans.

His position has been introduced instead of the Enlargement Commissioner because the new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker believes that during his five-year term there will be no accession of new members.

(Source: Fena)