Despite the fact that no EU enlargement is envisaged during the current political mandate of the European institutions, the work on the ground continues to prepare candidate countries for accession (in the more distant future). The Enlargement Day organised in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) was a chance for local and regional representatives from the EU Member States, candidate and partner countries to exchange good practices and engage in inspiring debates.
During the Enlargement Day plenary session, Markku Markkula, President of CoR, stressed that "European integration is not an obligation or a political duty. It is an opportunity that we offer to our citizens and to our economy", while praising the commitment of regional and local authorities towards European integration at this time., This is specifically relevant when the principles of the Union are at stake and are being challenged by populism and radicalisation.
Anna Magyar (EPP/HU, Vice-President of County Council of Csongrád Megye), the CoR's rapporteur on Enlargement strategy 2015-2016, underlined that more cooperation and coordination between the candidate countries and their authorities may bring better results than competition between them. She also urged guests from candidate countries to make use of the knowledge gained by the 12 Member States that joined the EU a decade ago - "Exchange of best practices with them may provide an added value to accession preparations" she noted.
The Enlargement Day agenda was also filled with CoR's formal meetings with local and regional representatives of the candidate and partner countries through its working groups and joint consultative committees. President Markkula underlined their role: "They remain our main political resource for sharing information and advocating on your (candidate countries) behalf before the Association Council. I hope you can make the most of this occasion, and I recommend that you build a strong relationship with the CoR Members who were recently in your position".
Several EPP/CoR Members took active part in the workings of the Joint Consultative Committees (JCCs) and Working Groups (WGs). Franz Schausberger (EPP/AT) chaired a meeting of the Working Group on Western Balkans. Hans Janssen (EPP/NL), presented his opinion on the protection of refugees in their areas of origin to the WG Turkey, while Paul Lindquist (EPP/SE) shared success stories from his own region with the representatives from Montenegro.
- Read our exclusive interview with Commissioner Johannes Hahn on the Enlargement Day
- Read or watch our interview with Anna Magyar, CoR rapporteur on the Enlargement Strategy 2015-2016
