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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, said on September 13 that the future of the Western Balkans and Ukraine is in the European Union (EU).
During an annual State of the EU address to members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Von der Leyen said the union "cannot leave our fellow citizens alone".
"The future of Ukraine is in our union. The future of the Western Balkans is in the EU. The future of Moldova is in the EU. And, I know how important the European perspective is for many people in Georgia," Von der Leyen declared.
The "State of the Union" speech is the most important annual moment for the EU. It is the annual general speech of the president of the European Commission to the plenary session of the European Parliament, and is held regularly in September. The speech includes actions the European Commission intends to take through legislation and other initiatives by the end of next year.
Von der Leyen said that "Europe responds to historical calls. History invites us to finish building our union. In a world where some seek to subjugate countries one by one, we cannot leave our fellow Europeans alone. In the world where size and weight are important, the conclusion of our union is, without a doubt, in the strategic interest of the EU".
She also mentioned the Balkan region when she spoke about cooperation in the management of illegal migration.
"The EU migration pact has ensured a balance between human rights and border protection, between sovereignty and solidarity, between security and humanity. We have cooperated closely with the countries of the Western Balkans and we have reduced the waves of illegal migration", she emphasized.
In August, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, called for the year 2030 to be set as the deadline by which the European Union and the candidate countries are ready for expansion, during the Bled Strategic Forum.
The countries of the Western Balkans have been promised a European perspective since 2003, at a summit in Thessaloniki. Since then, only Croatia among the countries of the region has joined the EU, in 2013.
Montenegro and Serbia started negotiations for membership years ago, while Albania and North Macedonia also started in July 2022.
Bosnia and Herzegovina received the status of a candidate country in December last year, while Kosovo only has a Stabilization-Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.
"A vision for success"
Von der Leyen called for a vision for successful EU enlargement.
“… A complete union, where more than 500 million people live in freedom, democracy and prosperity. A complete union where young people can live and study in freedom. Union in which there is democracy, where the courts are independent, where the opposition is respected and journalists are protected. These will be the foundations of our union in the present and future member countries", she said.
Ajo rikujtoi se para 20 vjetëve, kur kishte ndodhur zgjerimi i madh, e kishin quajtur këtë si “dita e mirëseardhjes“ dhe prej atëherë ato vende kanë shënuar “përparim të madh në secilin aspekt.”
“BE-ja me më shumë se 30 anëtarë”
Megjithatë, ajo përsëriti se Komisioni Evropian do ta ruajë gjithmonë parimin e meritave individuale në procesin e reformave gjatë procesit të zgjerimit.
Von der Leyen, po ashtu, bëri thirrje që të tejkalohen debatet e vjetra që krijojnë dilema mes reformave të brendshme dhe zgjerimit, sepse, sipas saj, është dëshmuar se këto dy gjëra mund të shkojnë paralelisht.
“Nuk mund t’i presim ndryshimet e traktateve për t’u zgjeruar. Kjo duhet të ndodhë më shpejt, duhet të gjejmë përgjigje në pyetjen se si do të funksionojë BE-ja me më shumë se 30 anëtarë“, theksoi ajo, duke rikujtuar se me 27 vende anëtare BE-ja ka dëshmuar se mund të funksionojë.
Von der Leyen përsëriti disa herë mbështetjen për Ukrainën, e cila është duke u përballur për pushtimin e jashtëligjshëm nga Rusia tash e 18 muaj.
“Do të jemi me Ukrainën deri në fund. Mbi katër milionë ukrainas kanë gjetur strehim në BE. Do të jenë të mirëpritur dhe dyert tona për ta do të jenë të hapura“, nënvizoi ajo.
Ajo tha se bashkë me anëtarët tjerë të Komisionit Evropian i kanë përmbushur mbi 90 për qind të synimeve që i kishte shprehur në fillim të mandatit në vitin 2019.
This was her last speech on the state of the EU, but also the indirect start of her pre-election campaign. Accordingly, the European elections will be held in June next year, which will result in a new structure in all European institutions./REL
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