Enlargement Commissioner Rehn says Romania not yet ready for EU
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Olli Rehn
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Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, says that EU member states spoke prematurely when they promised Romania that it could join the European Union, even though negotiations are far from finished.
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, and the Danish Politiken, Rehn complained that EU member states offered Romania and Bulgaria dates for entry into the EU while membership talks were still going on, and before the countries were even close to being ready to meeting the requirements of membership.
He also said that the EU has no other option than to negotiate with Turkey on full membership in the Union. Some member countries have suggested that Turkey should be offered a status that is less than than full membership.
"We should learn that the schedule must not supersede the content. Timetables must not force us to conclude negotiations before we are ready to do so", Rehn says in reference to Romania.
With Romania and Bulgaria, membership might be pushed back by a year, even though membership talks have been concluded. Rehn says that this is not an empty threat; he emphasised that there is readiness in the EU to postpone the membership of the two countries if they do not do their homework.
In the upcoming membership talks Rehn believes that the EU has learned from its experiences, especially with the Romanians.
"It is a question of homo sapiens, human beings, who learn by doing, and from previous experience. Negotiation strategies need to be developed for the future."
After the enlargement of last spring public opinion in the old member states has started turning against further enlargement. As an antidote to the fear, Rehn would like the EU to know modern Turkey better.
Rehn himself is deepening his knowledge of Turkey; he is currently reading Snow, a book by the renowned Turkish author Orhan Pamuk.
Rehn also feels that the Turks, for their part, should better understand what membership in the EU means, and what obligations it brings.
"Europe is not just a rose garden. Membership also means important commitments and legislative reforms", says Rehn. In his office in the new Berlaymont Building in Brussels he is constantly reminded of Turkey's membership bid by a vase with the crescent moon of Turkey's national flag, which he received as a gift from Turkish women entrepreneurs.
The EU is set to take on Romania and Bulgaria as new members in 2007 or 2008. Croatia, and possibly Turkey, are next in line. Already before the enlargement of last spring there was talk of where the final borders of the EU might be. Would Ukraine and Moldova also be possible members at some time in the future?
"We should never say never. But first it is better to offer Ukraine economic and political support", says Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
In spite of his busy schedule, and constantly meeting leaders of the EU and other countries, Rehn maintains active contact with his home.
"Your mother asked you to call", reads a note left by the Commissioner's secretary.
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, and the Danish Politiken, Rehn complained that EU member states offered Romania and Bulgaria dates for entry into the EU while membership talks were still going on, and before the countries were even close to being ready to meeting the requirements of membership.
He also said that the EU has no other option than to negotiate with Turkey on full membership in the Union. Some member countries have suggested that Turkey should be offered a status that is less than than full membership.
"We should learn that the schedule must not supersede the content. Timetables must not force us to conclude negotiations before we are ready to do so", Rehn says in reference to Romania.
With Romania and Bulgaria, membership might be pushed back by a year, even though membership talks have been concluded. Rehn says that this is not an empty threat; he emphasised that there is readiness in the EU to postpone the membership of the two countries if they do not do their homework.
In the upcoming membership talks Rehn believes that the EU has learned from its experiences, especially with the Romanians.
"It is a question of homo sapiens, human beings, who learn by doing, and from previous experience. Negotiation strategies need to be developed for the future."
After the enlargement of last spring public opinion in the old member states has started turning against further enlargement. As an antidote to the fear, Rehn would like the EU to know modern Turkey better.
Rehn himself is deepening his knowledge of Turkey; he is currently reading Snow, a book by the renowned Turkish author Orhan Pamuk.
Rehn also feels that the Turks, for their part, should better understand what membership in the EU means, and what obligations it brings.
"Europe is not just a rose garden. Membership also means important commitments and legislative reforms", says Rehn. In his office in the new Berlaymont Building in Brussels he is constantly reminded of Turkey's membership bid by a vase with the crescent moon of Turkey's national flag, which he received as a gift from Turkish women entrepreneurs.
The EU is set to take on Romania and Bulgaria as new members in 2007 or 2008. Croatia, and possibly Turkey, are next in line. Already before the enlargement of last spring there was talk of where the final borders of the EU might be. Would Ukraine and Moldova also be possible members at some time in the future?
"We should never say never. But first it is better to offer Ukraine economic and political support", says Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
In spite of his busy schedule, and constantly meeting leaders of the EU and other countries, Rehn maintains active contact with his home.
"Your mother asked you to call", reads a note left by the Commissioner's secretary.
Helsingin Sanomat