"Enlargement is the prerequisite of safety, peace, stabilisation, and development in Europe. The process is important for both the candidate countries and for the EU itself. The issue comes down to the question whether we can manage to bring the countries of the region closer to the EU, and whether we are able to introduce the necessary reforms within the Union so as to ensure it operates efficiently, in solidarity, and effectively, particularly in the area of defending the values which lie at its foundation," said Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, as she presented her opinion on the Enlargement package 2024 – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
Dulkiewicz, who serves as Mayor of Gdansk emphasised that the enlargement process must remain merit-based. She added, "There should be decentralisation, not only as an idea, but also in terms of fiscal decentralisation. We need to be aware of the activities of hostile actors, including media manipulation, public opinion manipulation, and disinformation. The role of non-governmental organisations is very important to support the integration process. And, lastly, we need bilateral cooperation — city to city, village to village, region to region."
The role of local and regional authorities
The opinion argues that a well-managed enlargement has the potential to benefit not only candidate states but also current EU Member States, their citizens, municipalities, cities, and regions. It recognises the essential role of local and regional authorities (LRAs) in the enlargement process of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, and underscores the need to strengthen the administrative capacities of LRAs to align with EU standards, thereby making EU integration tangible and visible to the public.
Dulkiewicz recalls that LRAs are responsible for implementing up to 70% of EU legislation and therefore stresses the importance of involving them in future accession negotiations, particularly on key chapters and in consultations on national alignment with the EU acquis. She considers it crucial that the EU plays an active role in facilitating this inclusion by setting clear expectations at the national level in candidate countries.
She further underlines the indispensable functions LRAs must fulfil to ensure the effectiveness of EU pre-accession funding on the ground. This requires being actively consulted on funding priorities and projects, particularly those linked to frameworks such as the Ukraine Investment Framework and the Neighbourhood Investment Platform.
The opinion also affirms that any future peace negotiations with the Russian Federation must include Ukraine and respect its sovereignty, as a free Ukraine is essential for a truly free Europe. It highlights the critical role of LRAs in Ukraine’s EU accession and reconstruction efforts, calling for structured involvement and adequate financing at the local level.
On Georgia the opinion expresses a clear commitment by the European Committee of the Regions to maintain and deepen cooperation with Georgian local authorities, notably through CORLEAP and decentralised cooperation agreements between EU and Georgian municipalities.
On Moldova the opinion stresses the importance of involving Moldovan LRAs in the implementation of EU-supported reforms and funding mechanisms, both to stimulate local development and to reinforce democratic governance.