Talk:Potential enlargement of the European Union

Georgia - Negotiations frozen?

So, what do we do about Georgia, after today's news? See here and here. Xolani (talk) 21:29, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

"Halting" is a very ambiguous term. It does not mean that Georgia's candidacy has been officially revoked. From what I understand, its more of a "pause" until Georgia repeals the "foreign influence" law. Once that precondition is met, negotiations may begin. For now, its best to wait and see what more comes of this rather than any editor making WP:CRYSTAL speculations. Cheers, Archives908 (talk) 01:13, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Also, with the 2024 Georgian parliamentary elections around the corner, its projected that a Pro-EU gov't will replace Georgian Dream and subsequently repeal the law. Archives908 (talk) 01:25, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

What was the criteria to change the status of Turkey's accession negotiations? I was wondering whether Georgia is at the same point as Turkey, right now. Xolani (talk) 16:36, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

Far from it, actually. The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour to suspend negotiations with Turkey, since then no new chapters have been opened or closed. Georgia's current position is nowhere similar to that of Turkey's. For one, Georgia hasn't even started negotiations, and like I said above, their candidacy isn't officially suspended, it's more of a "pause". Archives908 (talk) 18:26, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

In that case, it might make sense to change the text in the "Next step" column of the "Summary table" for Georgia to read the following:

«The European Commission needs to recommend starting negotiations, which is conditional on the withdrawal of the "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence" passed by the Georgian Parliament on 14 May 2024.»

What do you think? 185.17.48.189 (talk) 10:00, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

Georgia

Folks- Georgia's EU candidacy status has not been formally revoked. Their negotiations to acceded to the EU has been halted. They are still technically a "candidate country". Please comprehend the difference. Regards, Archives908 (talk) 03:22, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Negotiation status (Montenegro)

In 2020 EU adopted a revised enlargement negotiation methodology. This revised methodology was even integrated into similair revised provisions for the earlier adopted negotiation frameworks for Montenegro+Serbia in May 2021. Thus all 6 negotiating candidates currently follow the same 2020/21 revised enlargement negotiation methodology.

In line with the revised methodology:

• No further negotiating chapters will be closed before the interim benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24 are met.
• Once the interim benchmarks for chapters 23 and 24 have been met and closing benchmarks set for chapters 23 and 24, the rule of law action plans will need to be updated. Specific key issues identified as regards the functioning of democratic institutions and public administration reform will be phased in and included in the rule of law action plans. This will help better steer the reforms in this area.
• The two rule of law chapters (chapter 23+24) should be closed last.

On 26 June 2024, Montenegro just met the interim benchmarks for chapter 23+24. At the press conference, this achievement was described by the following words: "the opening phase of negotiations has now been completed, and the closing phase of negotions can now begin". The European Commissionair expected a "critical mass of chapters will now be closed during the second half of 2024". While the Prime Minister of Montenegro added his country now aspired to become an EU Member state by 2028 at the latest.

Perhaps the Wikipedia article should also mention the coined phrase "closing phase of negotiations" as an intermediate step for the negotiation status (referring to when a negotiating candidate met the interim benchmarks for chapter 23+24)? Or perhaps we should just mention "interim benchmarks for chapter 23+24 met" along with a linked explaining note what this means? Or should we continue to stay silent about this negotiation milestone, and only report how many chapters have been closed?

As we have witnessed for Montenegro and Serbia, it can take several years to achieve the milestone "interim benchmark for chapter 23+24 met", which mean a long period with no progress to report on the number of closed chapters. As Montengro now passed this milestone, they are now obviously one major step ahead of Serbia in their negotiation process. Furthermore my understanding is, that the revised enlargement methodology dictates that no chapters can be closed for Ukraine+Moldova+Albania+North Macedonia, before they reach the same milestone "interim benchmark for chapter 23+24 met". In my point of view, it would therefor also be relevant for the next step status table, to somehow reflect that this milestone step has now been achieved for Montengro. But let me know what you think? Danish Expert (talk) 06:32, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad should be mentioned, especially because the Kaliningrad question exists 2001:A62:15FE:2F02:151C:5C8D:AB4:438E (talk) 22:28, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

This is WP:CRYSTAL. Archives908 (talk) 16:36, 4 September 2024 (UTC)

What makes mentioning Russia not Crystal then? 2001:A62:15FE:2F02:DD7B:7E0E:7355:D39F (talk) 22:05, 5 September 2024 (UTC)

A significant amount of WP:RS would be needed. Archives908 (talk) 22:55, 5 September 2024 (UTC)

Belarus and Russia

In the section "States not on the agenda" both Russia and Belarus don't have the color on the map of "Membership possible" but as "Countries located (at least partially) in Europe". Is at least Belarus not a possible member? And since Russia is located partially in Europe, also not a possible member state? — Preceding unsigned comment added by ΨΨΨ (talk • contribs)

This was discussed at length here. Basically, no EU institution has ever said that Russia and Belarus could join the EU, unlike, for example, the United Kingdom, Norway, or, more recently, Armenia. Colouring them as “Membership possible” would be original research. Brainiac242 (talk) 17:52, 4 November 2024 (UTC)

Thank you for your answer. And don't know how to sign; apologies.

However, somewhere in the EU treaty texts, there is the statement that every European country can become a member state. This at least include Belarus and possibly even Russia. ΨΨΨ (talk) 20:09, 4 November 2024 (UTC)

According to Article 49 of the Maastricht Treaty, not every European country, but any European country. Any European country “which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them”. Values like democracy and the rule of law, which Russia and Belarus definitely don’t respect. Also, what constitutes a European country for this purpose is up to the European Council, that’s why Cyprus is a member state even though it is geographically in Asia.

Countries in orange are recognized by the EU institutions as democratic European countries that could, therefore, start the process to join the EU. Russia and Belarus might be democratic eventually, but they might not. The European Council might officially recognize Russia as a European country, but it might not. So, their membership might be possible eventually, but so far, it’s not.

As for signing, see WP:Signatures. Brainiac242 (talk) 21:59, 4 November 2024 (UTC)

That's not entirely true. Countries have to meet Article 49 requirements in order to be considered a candidate. This is usually presented as a motion which the European Parliament must adopt. Morocco was outright rejected. Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and most recently Armenia all have had their Article 49 requirements confirmed by overwhelming majority votes in parliament. While Russia and Belarus are indeed geographically in Europe (and have the right to apply in the future), there is currently no bill which has been either passed or rejected in regards to either of these countries meeting Article 49 requirements. Hope that clears it up for you! Archives908 (talk) 22:03, 4 November 2024 (UTC)