European Union establishments aren’t all the time keen to undertake a long-term imaginative and prescient, Affiliate Director of European Coverage Centre Elizabeth Kuiper advised EURACTIV.cz in an interview the place she mirrored on the takeaways of final yr’s Convention on the Way forward for Europe.
In Kuiper’s view, Czechia’s stint on the helm of the six-month rotating EU Council presidency was very profitable, although it may have finished extra on EU reform, notably with regard to the Convention on the Way forward for Europe.
“If I had been to say a file the place maybe the Czechs may have put a bit extra ardour, it’s certainly the Convention on the way forward for Europe,” she advised EURACTIV.cz.
“They solely did what was wanted to do,” Kuiper added.
The Convention on the way forward for Europe proved that “residents are keen to work on the European venture and give you concepts,” she added.
“It additionally exhibits that the EU establishments aren’t all the time keen to take long-term visions. Plenty of the proposals would require treaty change and for a lot of international locations, it is extremely tough, as a result of it includes tough selections which should be finished at residence,” she mentioned.
For politicians it isn’t simple to elucidate to the general public that such a expensive and prolonged course of is definitely wanted, she added.
Concerning speak in Europe on a defence union or strategic autonomy, for instance, Kuiper identified that there’s a lack of debate about what such issues imply in apply. She additionally pointed to EU reform discussions additionally having to be linked to the enlargement course of.
“In fact, it’s nice to see Ukraine making nice progress within the accession course of, however loads of work to do stays for the interior dynamics of the EU,” Kuiper mentioned.
“We want to consider what it could imply to produce other international locations becoming a member of the EU. If we disconnect this dialogue from the interior EU reforms, it should create issues.”
(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
