Ropke: We want new members to join the EU in the coming years

Brussels – I believe that the message from the European Commission to the candidate countries for membership is that we are ready for admission and want new member states to join the EU in the coming years, of course, when they meet the conditions, says the president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Oliver Ropke.

– This has always been a promise of the European Union. But we have seen over the past years that this promise has not been fulfilled on both sides. So, we have this momentum for enlargement and I think we must maintain it, Ropke stated in an interview for ENR, of which MIA is a member along with 24 other news agencies from across Europe.

According to Ropke, that is why the Committee places significant emphasis and priority on enlargement, with encouragement for the active involvement of representatives of civil society from candidate countries in the implementation of reforms, which is a prerequisite for membership based on merit.

– Everyone accepts this approach. Now we also need strong political will. I see that and can only say that the EESC is an absolute supporter of this idea, Ropke emphasizes.

To achieve that goal, according to Ropke, the EESC has the Initiative of members from the candidate countries for enlargement, and more specific bodies, such as the joint advisory committees, through which structured cooperation is established among social partners, civil society, and governments, as bodies for monitoring the situation, but also for formulating recommendations for the enlargement process.

– I think that through our work we have achieved concrete improvements, adds Ropke. (September 18, 2025)