He expressed the ambition to enlarge the EU by 2030 the president of the European Council, Charles Michel speaking to a small group of media in Brussels, including APE-MPE. He pointed out that when candidate countries achieve the requirements, it must be accepted that this has happened and the political decision must be made, adding that the timetable for some countries could be earlier, such as 2027, 2028 or 2029. .

In a question from APE-MPE in relation to the EU’s message to Turkey, a candidate for accession, which issued a statement after the adoption of its conclusions Summit on April 17 stating that he “will never accept an approach that links progress in Turkey-EU relations to the Cyprus issue”, Mr. Michel replied that “our message is extremely clear, it is clear. We had the strategic discussion two weeks ago and I invite you to read the conclusions. Every word is extremely important. First, we would like to work constructively with Turkey because we have a common interest in a stable environment in the Eastern Mediterranean. We therefore consider further progress in this area of ​​the UN process on Cyprus to be fundamental. When we work with third countries, we take into account the global picture and all the elements that need to be taken into account, and our conclusions are clear.”

It is recalled that in the conclusions of the Summit it is emphasized that it is a strategic interest of the European Union to ensure a stable and safe environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and to develop a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey. The European Council instructs the Permanent Representatives to take forward work on the recommendations of the joint communication in line with previous European Council conclusions, respecting the competences of the institutions, in a gradual, proportionate and reversible manner, subject to further guidance from the European Council . Turkey’s own constructive participation will be instrumental in advancing the various areas of cooperation identified in the joint communique.

In this regard, the European Union attaches particular importance to the resumption and progress of the talks on the settlement of the Cyprus issue with the aim of further strengthening EU-Turkey cooperation. Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council remains fully committed to the overall settlement of the Cyprus issue, within the framework of the UN, in accordance with the relevant decisions of the UNSC and respecting the principles on which the Union is founded and the acquis. The European Council welcomes the appointment of Maria Angela Holguin Quellard as the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy for Cyprus. The European Union is ready to actively contribute to the support of all stages of the process under the auspices of the UN, with all the appropriate means at its disposal, the European Council concludes.

At the same time, the president of the European Council, asked about the expression used by the French president Emmanuel Macron that Europe is mortal, noted that he believes that “a democratic project by its nature is mortal, every democratic project by its nature is mortal. It is not a pessimistic view. I am optimistic. I believe we have the power, we have the tools.”

Regarding what a future enlargement would mean for the European budget, for the cohesion policy, Charles Michel explained that “initially, transitions will be needed as always. We have such experience. We can do it.”

He added that “if one sees the size of the Western Balkans, Moldova or Georgia, that’s one thing, Ukraine is another, because of the size. The Western Balkans are 17 million inhabitants, it is something doable. Ukraine is something different because it is a bigger country, with 40 million inhabitants”.

“I will share my personal opinion and my personal suggestion. I believe that for Ukraine we will need a certain transition, which is not exactly in the system. Because it is the only example of a country that is facing a war, with a huge destruction in infrastructure”, said the president of European Council.

In relation to the concern about the rise of the extreme right in Europe, but also about who would be the best president in the Commission and the Council for the next term in order to prepare the guide for the enlargement, Mr. Michel noted “let’s see what the result will be. I am sure that everyone who believes in the European project will fight politically with arguments, with ideas to convince the voters, to convince the people of the right choice. It’s a choice for a strong European Union, for a resilient European Union, for a more sovereign European Union,” while wondering what would happen otherwise in the time of the coronavirus.

As for the heads of the Council and the Commission who could lead the way for enlargement, he replied that he would be “more than happy, in June after the European Council, because it will be the decision of European Councilprobably in June or July after the European elections, to meet you and officially communicate to you who has been nominated.”

Finally he was asked about the upcoming Hungarian presidency of the Council, in the second half of 2024. “I am extremely relaxed and convinced because in the last Council they expressed their intention to be very active in relation to Letta exhibition. I am convinced that by the end of the year significant progress will have been made and I count on the Hungarian presidency to play a strategic role,” he said.

Also the president of the European Council stated that “there is a dynamic, there is a process in the Council and with the Commission there will be, as always, the report on the enlargement after the summer and by the end of the year we will see in the Council the additional steps that will be needed , taking into account the progress achieved in the interim by the candidate countries. I’m not nervous at all. I want to underline that even when Hungary had some hesitations it was possible to negotiate, discuss and take decisions unanimously.”