Facts: This is how the EU has grown
The EU has been enlarged seven times since the six original members France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1951 signed on to create the “Coal and Steel Union”.
In 1973, Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland were added.
In 1981, Greece was added.
In 1986, Spain and Portugal were added.
In 1995, Finland, Sweden and Austria were added.
In 2004, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia were added.
In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania were added.
In 2013, Croatia was added.
Negotiations on EU membership with Montenegro (since 2012) and Serbia (since 2014) are currently underway. Negotiations have also begun with Turkey (2005), but have been frozen for the time being due to dissatisfaction with the democratic development in the country.
Northern Macedonia and Albania, in turn, have the status of candidate countries, with the promise of starting negotiations. Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have applied for membership but have not yet been granted candidate status.
In all likelihood, during this week’s summit in Brussels, EU Heads of State and Government will say yes to formal candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova.
– These are difficult times for Europe, with rising inflation, high energy prices and an ongoing war. In that situation, it is still a good sign that there are still countries that want to join the EU and that the EU is still somewhat attractive. I am pleased to welcome the Commission’s report on granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, says, for example, Finland’s EU Minister Tytti Tuppurainen on his way to Tuesday’s summit preparatory ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.
In recent years, many EU countries, mainly in Western Europe, have been skeptical about EU enlargement. Reluctance to pay more to the EU budget to support poor newcomers has been accompanied by general skepticism about corruption and public distrust of the crime that has moved in.
For Ukraine, however, there is strong support in public opinion. In a recent survey for the think tank ECFR, 57 percent of those surveyed in nine EU countries say yes to making Ukraine an EU member. Only 19 percent are against.
Long process
At the same time, it remains extremely long for a membership.
Even if there is candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, it will probably take several years before the countries can be considered mature to start negotiations.
Countries such as Albania and northern Macedonia received candidate status in 2014 and 2005 respectively, but have still not been invited to formal membership negotiations, despite countless promises.
One of the biggest obstacles is the requirement for unanimity among current EU countries in order to move forward in the process. For example, almost all countries have for many years given a thumbs up to Northern Macedonia. It has still not helped then first Greece and now Bulgaria say no.
EU bullies like France and Germany are pushing to get the latter to give in. However, opposition in Bulgaria, due to an infected dispute over language and history, remains strong among both the general public and political parties. The fact that the current government has opened up to lift its veto has led to a government crisis and a lost majority.
Do not forget Bosnia!
Before the leaders of the EU countries sit down to discuss Ukraine at the summit on Thursday, a meeting also awaits with Northern Macedonia, Albania and the other four countries in the Western Balkans that have been knocking on the EU door for several years.
Croatia and Slovenia are now urging the rest of the EU not to forget the Balkans when all the focus is on Ukraine. Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon believes that it is time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to gain candidate status as well.
– We would be happy if we could at least keep up the political pressure, discuss and find some different solution for the coming weeks and months that gives a light at the end of the tunnel. We would be even happier if we could get a piece or an opinion about it at the summit, Fajon says to the news site Euractiv.