"Enlargement is as much in the interest of the candidates as it is in the interest of the Union itself. We must do everything in our power and competence to support this process and contribute to its success as a European corporation of local government officials. The way the war in Ukraine is resolved will be fundamental to the process of prospects for the European Union's enlargement process."
These were the remarks of Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk and CoR Rapporteur on 'Enlargement package 2024 – Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia', during a CIVEX meeting, where her opinion was adopted.
Alin Nica, County Councillor at Timiș County Council, highlighted that "The so-called partner from beyond the Atlantic undermines our efforts to be a beacon of democracy and freedom on this continent. Europe is at a critical moment fighting again a bloodthirsty dictator in the East and a betrayer on the West, seemingly undermining the principles of the Union. We have a responsibility to reaffirm the efforts towards enlargement. Those countries are not just neighbours but part of our future. If we hesitate now, if we allow authoritarianism, we will disappoint the hopes of millions of EU citizens. We must reinforce the Rule of Law, stand firm by Ukraine and strengthen our defence. Europe will not be dictated by those who undermine its values. We have to defend not only our borders, but also our values. We should stay united."
Moldova and Georgia: The Path to EU Membership
Regarding Moldova, Dulkiewicz stated, "In Moldova, the issue of guaranteeing transparency, free and independent media requires special care in the context of the effective fight against disinformation and manipulation by actors hostile to expansion."
Regarding Georgia, she stressed, "The Georgian society clearly demonstrates that there is no consent to deviate from the European path. Regardless of the political turmoil, the process of democratisation and modernisation in Georgia cannot be reversed."
Training and Internship Programme Support for Ukrainian Municipalities and Inter-Municipal Cooperation
Dulkiewicz who served as Chair of the Working Group on Ukraine, also spoke during the signing of the partnership agreement between the CoR and U-LEAD on Training and Internship Programme Support for Ukrainian Municipalities and Inter-Municipal Cooperation (TIPS4UA).
She said, "Over 20 municipalities from across 14 EU member states have been selected to offer training positions during the 2025 pilot phase and more than 40 Ukrainian local representatives will be able to participate. With this initiative, we want to address specific needs of Ukrainian municipalities and contribute to building capacity and providing technical support to their staff, while ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the challenges of reconstruction and recovery effort."
TIPS4UA aims to enhance the capabilities of Ukrainian municipalities and strengthen international cooperation and solidarity between the EU and Ukraine. This initiative will equip local leaders and their teams with ad-hoc skills and expertise in effective governance, reconstruction, and management, building on existing synergies between EU and Ukrainian local and regional authorities (LRAs).
Furthermore, TIPS4UA will facilitate the development of emerging municipal partnerships and joint projects, ensuring that Ukrainian municipalities receive the necessary support to navigate the complexities of post-war recovery and long-term development.
Turkey must honor its obligations - Eleni Loucaidou
During a discussion on the opinion Enlargement package 2024 - Western Balkans and Turkey, Eleni Loucaidou, Vice-President of the EPP-CoR and Member of the Municipal Council of Lefkosia highlighted that Cyprus intentions is not to exclude Turkey from its accession process. "On the contrary, it is in the interest of the Republic of Cyprus and all Cypriots to establish good relations with this country, in order to enable a fair solution of the Cyprus problem, based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council, on the basis of a Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation, for the benefit of all the communities of Cyprus. However, for this to be possible, Turkey must honor its obligations, based on International Law and the resolutions of the UN Security Council, as well as the decisions of the Council of the European Union.
