If you look at where each of the countries is now after the major enlargement in 2004, the economic growth, living standards and quality of life that were brought to those countries clearly show that enlargement is a win-win situation not only for the countries that want to become members but also for those that are already part of the Union, pointed out the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, during her address at the Economist conference, saying that stagnation does not help, and the continued status quo only brings disappointment.
Metsola and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed at the official gala dinner the topic of “Progress in times of turmoil”, and both also touched on the enlargement of the European Union, especially with the Western Balkan countries, stressing the importance of this process moving forward and not stagnating.
The EP president pointed out that more than ten countries now want to become members of the Union and expressed satisfaction that discussions are already underway on what steps should be taken before enlargement.
“Each country has its own path and progresses on the basis of its own merits. But we must not leave these countries waiting indefinitely. We have attended countless EU-Western Balkans summits, where Kyriakos [Mitsotakis] was always among the first to say that we must not end the meeting without zero progress,” said Metsola.
