ZAGREB, 22 Jan (Hina) – Croatia supports the European Union’s enlargement, but its absorption capacity will be crucial to the pace of enlargement, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday during a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
He called for realism, noting that a Union with eight or nine additional members “would be a completely different organisation.”
“The long-forgotten fourth Copenhagen criterion from 1993 has resurfaced: the EU’s absorption capacity. What are the budgetary costs of enlargement? How will new members impact the balance between contributing and beneficiary countries? What will be the effects on public policies, cohesion and agriculture?” Plenković stated during the panel titled “Enlarge to Prosper: Will Europe Grow?”
The Copenhagen criteria are the requirements set by the EU for candidate countries seeking membership. These include political, economic and legal standards, as well as alignment with the Union’s goals.
However, Plenković emphasised that this complex process is highly positive in terms of the political will of leaders. He highlighted that he had not seen “such a positive stance towards enlargement” for a long time.
“I am pleased that the EU’s enlargement policy is once again a priority for all member states. Croatia has been advocating for this issue for years. Given global challenges, it is more important than ever to have a secure and competitive Europe,” Plenković wrote on the social platform X after the panel discussion.
Beyond budgetary implications, the Prime Minister noted during the panel that there is another pressing issue to address: “the decision-making process within the EU and its institutional architecture.”
“Today’s Union of 27 members, compared to a potential 36 members, would already be a different organisation. It was strange for those who were part of it when there were just six members…, but with 36, it would be a completely different organisation. These two elements will underpin the dynamics of enlargement,” Plenković said.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that, considering the Union’s absorption capacity, the Commission began reviewing various areas last year in preparation for enlargement. These areas include values, finances, public policies and governance.
“We must be prepared; otherwise, the European Union will not be strong… When discussing enlargement, we should focus on three pathways: negotiations with candidate countries, preparing the Union for new members, and working with member states to address their concerns,” Kos explained.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha, whose country gained candidate status after Russia’s invasion in 2022, emphasised the importance of treating candidate countries as EU members as early as possible.
“For example, it would be excellent if these ambitious enlargement goals were reflected in the 2028–2034 budget. Without this, meeting them will be very problematic,” Sibikha noted.
Milojko Spajić, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, a candidate country since 2010, said the Union “should open up a bit more” and consider the broader picture and the effects of enlargement.
