This year has been a momentous year for the EU’s enlargement policy. I’m very glad that we not only have been able to provide proposals to the Council but that decisions are being made,  stated Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, following the EU Foreign and European Affairs Ministerial in Brussels.

“You’ve seen that this year has been a momentous year for the EU’s enlargement policy. I’m very glad that we not only have been able to provide proposals to the Council but that decisions are being made. The Council conclusions that have been adopted today are fundamental for any progress to go ahead with enlargement. I think that the Council conclusions have largely confirmed the substantial reports that we have put forward to the Council for the 10 candidate countries. The first time that we have 10 countries to report on. I think that our reports and recommendations on the merits of the countries have been followed through pretty much by the Council.

This also shows the work being done together with the Council paying dividends. Of course, now we need to see how this is going to be translated into the more strategic decisions that we all await this week by our leaders, by the European Council. Where it is clear that the foremost important and politically strategic questions for the leaders are to be discussed and we do hope that they will also be agreed on. Meaning a strong message confirming the commitment to the EU membership perspective for the Western Balkans, for Ukraine, for Moldova and Georgia. Also following through the recommendations the Commission has made,” the EU Commissioner declared.