EU: European Parliament Cools On Membership Hopes Of Neighboring Countries

Thursday, 19 January 2006
RFE/RL
By Ahto Lobjakas

BRUSSELS, 19 January 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The shift of mood in the European Parliament is tangible.
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Barely a year ago, the parliament threw down a challenge to the European Commission and the member states by adopting a declaration demanding a clear membership perspective for Ukraine. Other hopefuls, such as Moldova and the Caucasus countries, also found encouragement in the parliament's stance.

Now, the parliament seems barely prepared to recognize that some of the EU's neighbors may at some point have the right to membership. And few are willing to discuss the details.
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All of the bigger political groups in the European Parliament have made clear that they do not think further enlargement is an issue for the foreseeable future.

Elmar Brok, head of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, [...] said the EU must find other ways to promote reforms than offering membership. [...].
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The parliament's report makes a series of specific demands and recommendations. It says progress must be made "on the opening of Turkey's border with Armenia."
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It also urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to work towards a settlement of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and urges Armenia to permit the gradual return of refugees to the occupied territories. The report also proposes a "European stability pact for" the South Caucasus, involving the EU, Russia, the United States, and the United Nations.
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Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.