Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has revived EU expansion as an imperative. For years, “enlargement” has been a low priority – Croatia was the last country to join the club, more than 10 years ago. But things have changed. Ursula von der Leyen told a forum in Bled, Slovenia I attended this month that Europe’s security depends on the 27-nation union expanding again. Thanks to Vladimir Putin, as the Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama, put it, enlargement is back on track.
The fact that expansion is a strategic priority makes it possible that new members will be admitted.
If European countries show that they can survuve – maybe even thrive – outside the EU then that calls into question the very justification of the EU. So, absorb them all before that is possible.
Note, that’s the less cynical description. The more cynicial is one ringpiece to rule them all.
Cyprus and Malta make a nice living selling EU citizenship, seems like a paricularly good tickle for Albania.
Swapping net contributors like Germany for net receipients like Albania does not seem like a good deal for the existing members. As for security it’s NATO not the EU we have to look to.
Just like Spuds answer to everything is Moar Taxes, the EU answer to everything is More Europe!
Ukraine, Georgia, Chechnya, Moldova, Armenia demonstrate that neighbors of Muscovy suffer until they join EU and NATO.
The dear leader has been applying his vast intellect to domestic issues thus far but rest assured he will be running headfirst into VDL’s welcoming (providing he brings the chequebook) arms before long.
I think TTK has his eye on President of the Commission. He may not be a drunk like Junker and might possibly have a synapse or two more than Useless but he makes up for it with his consummate arse licking and general toadyness…
Croatia was the last country to join the club,
Its a union not some cosy club you buffoon. If they can’t get that right then what’s the point of them?
On the subject of the EU, Drahgi’s latest report come in for some good criticism that demonstrates eveything that’s wrong with the EU.
From Twitter:
And the Streetwise Professor hits the nail squarely on the head, as always, with the added bonus of the correct use of begging the question.
https://streetwiseprofessor.com/not-so-super-marios-plan-to-unscrew-europe-would-screw-it-even-worse/
Had it not been for the invasion of Ukraine, accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia would certainly still be stuck, and Bosnia and Herzegovina would not have been recognised as an EU candidate.
Heh, take THAT, Putin.
I bet Russia feels very silly now that the EU has decided to let in more gypsies and Muslim drug dealers.
Steve
‘It’s a gift ……….From Tony Soprano!!!!’
you put it more succinctly than any of us ever will. I have a friend who hails from North Macedonia and she is scathing about the capacity of the country to bring anything other than corruption and grift to the table and that is by some distance the best of the three candidate countries.
These people, and indeed the entire EU live in a fool’s paradise….
VP – so important that every supermarket in Western Europe has a sad-eyed gypsy begging at the entrance.
Imagine being stupid enough to give them money.
As ever, the Eu hasn’t thought this through.
Eastern Europe has the same or worse demographics as the western part. Once in the EU the young will leave for higher paid jobs as baristas in Camden.
That will leave a small population of indigent pensioners to resist the Russian and Islamic hordes who will pile in through the gates of Vienna.