Letting Ukraine into the EU will reinforce, not undermine, Europe’s security | Piotr Buras and Engjellushe Morina
www.theguardian.com
Many Europeans don’t realise that EU enlargement is the only way to counter China and Russia – but this week, leaders must act, say Piotr Buras and Engjellushe Morina of the European Council on Foreign Relations

Tried to give a good summary:

European politicians continuously restate that EU enlargement is necessary for geopolitical reasons. But they have not yet managed to bring European societies on board to support this view.

A plurality (37%, on average) of the citizens in the six countries surveyed by the ECFR believe that Ukraine should be able to join the EU – and this often includes people who are aware of the negative consequences of such an event. It seems that the emotional support for Ukrainians is still strong and outweighs rational considerations

There is no other way to underline the EU’s commitment to enlargement as a crucial geopolitical choice than to give clear commitments to Ukraine and other candidate countries.

At this week’s summit, it is imperative that leaders do not shy away from alarmist language and tough decisions.They should open negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, commit to necessary military support in 2024 and declare that the EU will prepare the next budget for enlargement.

The key measure of Ukraines victory, however, will not be the restoration of full control of its territory, but winning control of its future as a European, prosperous and democratic country. The EU is Ukraine’s only chance.

  • @[email protected]English
    15•11 months ago

    It is time for Europe Union 2. It is like a second onion-shell around Europe Union(1), but this time, only countries can apply that agree, that one or two small mini countries that have a dictator at their lead, are not able to veto the whole others. All the big players are in (DE, FR, IT, ES, etc.) and Ukraine can join us in EU2 without the problems of EU1 where dwarf-states with their dwarf-leader with their dwarf-brain can veto the wish of the others. In 2050 we can make even a EU2.1 and let Georgia, and Kazakhstan join EU2.1, no problem. Some countries will still run EU1 and will never upgrade and will never gain the new features and allocation formula of the 2.1 Member countries, but its their own fault if they wish not to upgrade. Let us not get hold back because of backward compability and errors from the v1.0 Version but keep developing! Want to veto the entrance of a new Country to EU2? To bad, your never became part of EU2 and are still running EU1. EU2 decided to let them join EU2. EU Plus - it’s Double Plus Good. All the great features of EU1, but with modern features and without the bugs. Get excited for “EU3 Fortnite”, where only People under the Age of 50 can make resolutions and laws as it is their time now to live and to decide how to shape the future and not some geriatric folks that will die anyway in 10y and does not get affected their whole life by those new rules. Out now: EU3.2 with Microtransactions - UK wants to get back in, but wants to keep the Pound Currency? You can! We do not care if you want to continue showing colonial slave traders (queens) or Pedophiles (princes) on your paper-strips. For a small payment of 3.000.000 EUR per month, you can keep your own currency. With the new EU3.3 Season Battle Pass, you can even join, discontinue and rejoin any regional- or global war at will without a penalty for leaving a game early. Join a war whenever you feel like!

    • @[email protected]English
      10•11 months ago

      Europe already has a pretty complicated Euler diagram going on.

      That’d be another oval.

      EDIT: And that’s actually a pretty small subset of existing groups. If you include stuff like all the intergovernmental military integration initiatives, it gets much more-complicated.

    • gian English
      4•11 months ago

      The problem with the vetoes could be solved if the proposed reform (to abolish the unanimous requirement) pass.

      • @[email protected]English
        7•11 months ago

        You know who will block that it will pass: Those fringe authoritarian states. It can not be solved. It is actually like asking them “hey, you cool with losing your veto power that you abused in the last decade because you are a russian puppet?”. Orban will never put a knife in his own back by giving up the crippling power he has over the EU. It is all he has.

        • gian English
          0•11 months ago

          You know who will block that it will pass: Those fringe authoritarian states.

          It is a possibility, but I am not sure about it.

          It can not be solved. It is actually like asking them “hey, you cool with losing your veto power that you abused in the last decade because you are a russian puppet?”. Orban will never put a knife in his own back by giving up the crippling power he has over the EU. It is all he has.

          “Hey, you cool losing 5 billion Euros from EU ? If not please approve the reform”, that is how it will be sold to them. And they know that they cannot refuse the money and I am sure enough that they will think that they can use the new voting system to their favour.