European Union enlargement must be based on merit rather than political deadlines, Croatian Member of the European Parliament Tonino Picula says.
“We must be prepared for a Union that includes new members, while ensuring that each of them is ready for membership. This means fulfilling commitments, implementing reforms and meeting all the criteria,” Picula added in a post on X.
He stressed that geopolitical circumstances must not be used as an excuse to move away from established criteria.
“We must convince our citizens, through arguments, that enlargement strengthens the Union rather than weakening its capacity to act. Membership is not a gift it must be earned,” Picula concluded.
