Macron and Scholtz begin great enlargement push – Brussels gears up to expand
Macron and Scholtz are set to encourage countries to join a historic expansion which would integrate Ukraine and other candidates into the European Union
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Emmanuel Macron is set to encourage EU countries to join a historic expansion which would integrate Ukraine and other candidates into the bloc.
The French President will aim to use a gathering of leaders in the Spanish city of Granada on Thursday to carry out his plan.
However, there are some concerns about the viability of such a big expansion from some member states.
The French leader is expected to make a joint effort with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the third meeting of the European Political Community - a group created after the Russia invasion to bring together European leaders from beyond the EU.
The French leader will reportedly make a joint effort with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the third meeting of the European Political Community - a group created after the Russia invasion to bring together European leaders from beyond the EU
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Over recent months, Macron has made a U-turn on Ukraine's expansion to Nato and the EU.
Despite the Russian invasion fuelling the growth of the EU, Macron and Scholz face difficulty trying to convince other member countries to undertake massive changes.
The leaders could find it hard to convince leaders over issues such as internal reforms that would be required to admit Ukraine.
With Europe-wide elections next year, some leaders are said to be fighting a populist surge.
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France is pushing for EU leaders to agree on a statement in Granada about reform needs as they decide on an enlargement, an Elysée advisor claims.
However, the same advisor admitted limited expectations about the enlargement timeline.
“A lot of things need to be addressed [by 2030],” he told Politico.
He added that the enlargement process needs to be made “more credible, with reforms in candidate countries and in the EU”.
Despite the Russian invasion fuelling the growth of the EU, Macron and Scholz face difficulty trying to convincing EU countries to undertake massive changes
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The French president has argued expansion should “be done as quickly as possible … But I’m not sure setting a date is the most legitimate question."
Alberto Alemanno, professor of EU at HEC business school in France said: “The level of enthusiasm for EU enlargement and reform is, in reality, quite low.
“Scholz and Macron don’t really want to reform or enlarge — but they realise that unless they do something, the EU could come apart.”