Enlargement, drug-trafficking, and democracy in CIVEX spotlight

Members of the European Committee of the Regions have given their preliminary endorsement of the European Commission's assessments that Ukraine and Moldova are ready to start negotiations on EU membership, while also broadly supporting its appraisal of progress made by other countries seeking membership.

The 6 February meeting of the Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs, (CIVEX) also saw the commission start its review of the EU roadmap to combat drug-trafficking – described by the European Commission as being at an "all-time high" – and on European Commission proposals to deepen and defend European democracy.

Enlargement

The adoption by CIVEX of recommendations on enlargement came five days after leaders of the EU's member states gave the green light for the creation of a Ukraine Facility, a €50 billion support package for Ukraine until 2027.

Members of the CIVEX commission – as well as representatives of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission – described enlargement as a geopolitical priority for the European Union.

The CoR's recommendations stress the importance of closer collaboration with and support for sub-national governments, as a means of preparing countries for EU membership, and underscore the value of showing citizens early on the practical benefits of EU integration.

The CIVEX commission adopted two opinions, one focused on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye, and the other on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

The rapporteur for the opinion on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, Antje Grotheer (DE/PES), president of Bremen City Parliament, said: "All three countries, each of which is exposed to Russian aggression in its own way, have in common that the enlargement process is an expression of their right to self-determination, is in the geopolitical interest of the European Union and is intended to serve as part of the restoration of a more comprehensive European peace order. My starting point is also that enlargement to these three states is an investment in the security and credibility of the EU, in the possibility of strengthening cohesion in Europe in the broader implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and in the benefits that will accrue to all of an enlarged internal market."

The rapporteur for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, Nikola Dobroslavić (HR/EPP), prefect of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, said: "The countries of the Western Balkans have undivided support for accession to the EU, but they must meet the criteria for membership. You cannot become a member of a club without respecting and adopting the rules and standards of the club. This refers to the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, media freedom, the fight against corruption and organised crime, minority rights, gender equality, progress in multi-level governance, and so on. Türkiye must, first of all, show that it accepts EU values and of course fulfil the criteria like all the others. All the candidate countries and potential candidates must align with the policies of the EU."

Both opinions are due for adoption at the CoR's plenary on 17-18 April 2024.

Democracy

The CIVEX commission discussed two dossiers on democracy, including one – on the European Commission's Defence of Democracy package – that will be fast-tracked for adoption by the CoR in April, ahead of European Parliament elections in June 2024, with József Kóbor (HU/EA), member of Pécs local government, as rapporteur-general.

Welcoming the Defence of Democracy package as "a vital initiative", Mr Kóbor said that local and regional authorities would be "not only implementers of these recommendations, but also innovators, adapting and applying these initiatives to meet the unique needs of our communities". The opinion would, he said, provide "an opportunity to better integrate the local and regional perspective".

The second opinion being developed by CIVEX is on ''Active subsidiarity: a fundamental principle in the EU Better regulation agenda". The rapporteur, Mark Speich (DE/EPP), state secretary for federal, European and international affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, said: "Stronger involvement of the subnational level in the EU decision making process would certainly enhance the EU's capacity to deliver better policies, through systematically integrating evidence on the ground. Ahead of the European elections, it is now the moment to emphasise our willingness to take on more responsibility for improving EU legislation."

Drug-trafficking

The European Commission in October 2023 set out a EU roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime in response to an increase – to record levels – of the trade in illicit drugs in the EU, identifying 17 actions in four priority areas.

The CoR will adopt its recommendations in June 2024. The rapporteur, Matteo Luigi Bianchi (IT/ECR), member of Varese Local Assembly, said that his opinion would aim "to establish how local and regional authorities can do their part to mitigate all or at least some of the negative effects of this dangerous phenomenon. Multi-level governance and an inter-agency approach to crime prevention are key. Driving a new strategic approach to the fight against drug trafficking requires increasingly stronger cooperation between all relevant actors. It is also essential to strengthen collaboration between local and regional authorities and non-governmental organisations."

Background

• Agenda of the CIVEX meeting, 6 February 2024
• Webstream of the CIVEX meeting, 6 February 2024
• 'Ukraine Facility: A vital step for Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and EU accession', press release, 1 February 2024.
• European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine
• CoR's work on Better Regulation and Active Subsidiarity
• "Communication on the EU Roadmap to fight Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime", European Commission, 18 October 2023
  

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.