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