EuropeanWesternBalkans: Echoes of the EU

MEPs, the European Commission and experts discussed the EU enlargement process and the impact and substantial changes of the Sofia EU-Western Balkans Summit.

A stronger cooperation is necessary to come closer to the ultimate end of EU membership. Moreover, democratic reforms and rule of law are essential components, and it will be for Western Balkan citizens rather than the Commission to pronounce whether they have been implemented. - Genoveva Ruiz Calavera

However, the work yet to be done concerns not only the Western Balkan 6, but also the EU Member States themselves. In fact, the EU needs to be truly open to welcoming new members, and it needs to be functional. Moreover, the highly negative perception among the population of the EU on the potential accession of new member states needs to be addressed. - Genoveva Ruiz Calavera

The Sofia Summit was the first test of what can be expected in the coming months from the European institutions and the Member States. - Anna Orosz

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