Oliver Röpke urges EU to push for membership expansion
- Oliver Röpke has called for strong political commitment to EU enlargement during his mandate as EESC president.
- The EESC has launched an initiative to include civil society representatives from candidate countries in policy discussions.
- Röpke emphasizes the need to maintain the momentum for EU expansion to fulfill promises made to candidate countries.
On September 18, 2023, in Brussels, Oliver Röpke, the outgoing president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), made a significant statement regarding the future of EU enlargement. He emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum for admitting new members into the EU within the coming years, conditional on meeting necessary standards. According to Röpke, this initiative marks a crucial opportunity for the EU to fulfill its promise of expansion, which has not materialized over the past years. Röpke mentioned that the EESC is dedicated to supporting this enlargement movement through various initiatives that encourage civil society engagement from candidate countries. He highlighted the establishment of the Enlargement Candidate Members' Initiative, which began in September 2023 under his leadership. This initiative includes over 140 representatives from EU candidate countries, allowing them to collaborate closely with EESC members in shaping opinions and providing insights from their perspectives. Röpke believes that this program is a major advancement in fostering dialogue between existing EU members and prospective candidates. He expressed that understanding the interests and needs of these candidate nations is vital for successful integration into the EU. Additionally, Röpke criticized the past failures to uphold the enlargement promise on both sides, which has resulted in stalled progress. He asserted that for the EU to move forward, there needs to be a strong political will among member states to welcome new countries into the fold. The EESC, serving as an advisory body, aims to play a transformative role in this process by supporting reforms in candidate countries that are essential for membership. They are advocating for a structured cooperation model that includes social partners, civil society, and government collaboration to monitor the situation and provide general recommendations. As of now, nine countries hold EU candidate status, showcasing a diverse range of nations eager to join the union. Röpke's passionate call for continued support and involvement underscores the importance of genuine engagement from current EU members to ensure that candidate countries receive the assistance they need to qualify for eventual membership.