The EU is meant to start growing again, but there is still disagreement in some quarters over how to achieve that. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is sticking to his proposal for an associated EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan states, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Critics complain that this would amount to a “waiting room” or a second-class form of membership. Gunther Krichbaum counters that they apparently have not yet understood the model.
For the Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office, it is about a clear commitment. He explains: “Why should we not give these countries, which would then have the status of associated members, of course without voting rights, the opportunity to take part in sessions of the European Parliament? That would not cost us a single euro or cent.”
According to Krichbaum, this would also send a clear signal to China, Russia and other countries and show: “These countries belong with us, to the European Union.”
In this way, EU accession candidates could be made to feel that they are already somewhat “part of the club”, Krichbaum explains. It is important, he says, to bring these states closer and integrate them.
