On Monday 14 October 2024 at the Bertelsmann Stiftung Berlin, Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković engaged in a wide-ranging discussion with Daniela Schwarzer, executive board member of Bertelsmann Stiftung, to explore the challenges facing the European Union.
Plenković, a seasoned European politician and diplomat with more than two decades of experience in EU politics, has served as Croatia’s prime minister since 2016 and was instrumental in leading Croatia’s EU accession efforts. His involvement in European integration, first as a Member of the European Parliament and later as Croatia’s leader, provided rich context for the discussion.
Plenković was in Berlin attending the summit on the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans. Launched in 2014 by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Berlin Process is a diplomatic initiative aimed at fostering cooperation and supporting the EU accession of six Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The process was designed to reinvigorate the EU enlargement agenda for this region by addressing key challenges, such as economic development, regional cooperation, reconciliation and governance reforms.
Over the past decade, the Berlin Process has helped keep the accession process visible, though tangible progress towards accession has been light. Some positive steps include enhanced regional cooperation, the promotion of infrastructure projects and the development of a Common Regional Market at the 2020 Sofia Summit to facilitate trade and movement within the Western Balkans. While the process does not replace the formal EU accession procedure, it has been instrumental in keeping EU enlargement on the agenda.
The view from the EU’s newest member
In his keynote speech, Plenković emphasised that Croatia, the EU’s newest member, is one of the fastest-growing economies in the union and is now seeking membership in the OECD. On major challenges, Plenković urged the EU to continue standing by Ukraine with actions, not just declarations of intent. Russia, he said, is the greatest threat to security on the European continent.
Looking at the security situation, Plenković called for taking advantage of opportunities to expand the EU. In the context of enlargement, he stressed the importance of adhering to the Copenhagen criteria, particularly the rule of law, emphasisng that the EU must enforce these principles within its own ranks as it considers further enlargement.
Daniela Schwarzer and Andrej Plenković debated these and other topics before an audience of political, diplomatic and civil society representatives. In the discussion, Plenković acknowledged the frustration surrounding the slow pace of EU accession for the six Western Balkan countries of the Berlin Process, calling it a “waiting for Godot” situation – a reference to Samuel Beckett’s play symbolising endless delay.
Despite this frustration, the prime minister expressed optimism, citing the upcoming European Commission as an opportunity for renewed progress. He stressed that while fatigue may exist, governments and citizens of candidate countries remain committed to the accession process, calling it “the only option” for their future.
Migration policy and supporting Ukraine
Beyond enlargement, Plenković highlighted migration and support for Ukraine as critical priorities for the EU. He acknowledged a significant reduction in migration along the so-called Balkan route that had become a major pathway into the EU. However, he urged the EU to maintain a serious and long-term focus on this issue.
On Ukraine, Plenković drew parallels to Croatia’s own experience with war in the 1990s, underscoring his strong support for comprehensive assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing conflict. It is important to strengthen Ukraine’s position before fair negotiations can take place, he said, as Croatia knows how important it is to negotiate from a position of strength.
A look at a larger EU
As the discussion drew to a close, it returned to possible future of an expanded EU, not surprising given the backdrop provided by the Berlin Process summit. An audience member posed a hypothetical question: How would Plenković, if he were President of the European Commission, manage an EU with 33 or even more member states? Would he consider reducing the number of commissioners?
Plenković, with his extensive experience in EU politics, remarked that there was a time when certain member states had more than one commissioner, noting that such arrangements were not seen as excessive back then.
Without saying exactly what he would do, he expressed scepticism that any country would voluntarily give up its commissioner. As the leader of a smaller EU nation, Plenković stressed the importance of representation for new and smaller member states, emphasising that countries, such as those in the Western Balkans, would not want to lose a seat at the table.
Daniela Schwarzer pointed out that the new European Commission, with six Vice Presidents working in teams with other commissioners, is pursuing a new approach that will hopefully enable more integrated, efficient action.
This engaging discussion provided a window into the challenges facing the EU today, from the complexities of enlargement to managing migration and supporting Ukraine during its time of crisis. Plenković’s insights underscored the importance of unity and adaptability as the EU potentially becomes larger and faces a more hostile and complex future.
