Ideas emerging on how to strengthen gradual integration - EU Commissioner Kos
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that various ideas are currently emerging on how to strengthen gradual integration regarding Ukraine’s membership in the European Union.
Kos said this at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, commenting on journalists’ requests for information regarding ideas proposed by Berlin and Paris for so-called "associate membership" without voting rights or access to the EU budget.
Kos said that the EU’s expansion methodology was created "for peace and for those times when there is enough time."
"More or less, we are still using the methodology that was applied 40 years ago when Spain and Portugal joined the EU, and today we celebrate 40 years of their accession. So what we are now discussing with member states, and ideas are coming from different corners and different ideas, is whether there is a way – because we know that the accession process can take a long time since it is so much work – are there any ideas how we should or could strengthen gradual integration," she said.
As an example, she cited the "principle of gradual integration, mostly in the field of economy, such as roaming, energy."
"But now we are discussing whether there are any other areas where we could use the same principles," Kos said.
