Dr. James F. Downes’ Post

The 20th anniversary of the EU's largest enlargement prompts reflection on its impact. The enlargement secured peace, democracy, and economic growth but faces criticism for leniency towards rule-of-law violations of some of the members. It is more vital than ever that Europe reinforces liberal values amidst global uncertainties and advocates for continued enlargement with a focus on fostering democracy. We invited Regional Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation European Dialogue Jules Maaten and Project Director for Central Europe and the Baltic States Lars-André Richter, for a short interview. Read here: https://lnkd.in/edciJqSs #enlargement #eu #ruleoflaw

Should the #EU expel #Hungary? Check out my latest co-authored article with the excellent @Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa below!

On this day 20 years ago, the #EuropeanUnion welcomed 10 new member states marking its greatest enlargement in history. 🇨🇾 🇨🇿 🇪🇪 🇭🇺 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇲🇹 🇵🇱 🇸🇰 🇸🇮 This enlargement played a significant role in promoting prosperity, strengthening democracy and ensuring stability across #Europe and shaping the #EU of today—a global economic power, a geopolitical actor and a reliable transatlantic partner. In her most recent article, Wilson Center | Global Europe Program's Maša Ocvirk discusses how the EU is preparing to make the Union even stronger now and extend its benefits and freedoms to more European countries. https://buff.ly/44kJxfs

Today, November 18, European Union ministers are gathering in Brussels for the Foreign Affairs Council under the chairmanship of High Representative Josep Borrell. While the "official agenda" includes discussions on the Horn of Africa and other critical geopolitical matters, a shadow looms over the meeting: the presence of Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Verónica Macamo. Macamo’s mission? To secure European silence on the Mozambican regime’s violent suppression of democracy and human rights following the fraudulent presidential elections of October 9, 2024. In exchange, she offers Europe what it desperately seeks: Access to Mozambique’s vast natural gas reserves amidst an ongoing energy crisis. Mozambique is in the throes of a profound political crisis following elections that were neither free nor fair. Since October 9, Mozambicans have courageously taken to the streets to demand justice, democracy, and respect for their votes. The Frelimo regime, which has clung to power for nearly five decades, has responded with brutal crackdowns: - Over 90 peaceful protesters killed by police and security forces. - Hundreds injured and detained, with demonstrators targeted with live ammunition and tear gas. - Media blackouts and internet shutdowns to silence dissent and obscure the regime’s violence. Despite mounting evidence of electoral fraud and egregious human rights violations, Minister Macamo seeks to leverage Mozambique’s natural resources to gain European recognition of Frelimo’s illegitimate government. Mozambique’s natural gas reserves have become a focal point for Europe’s energy security amidst geopolitical turmoil, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. European energy giants such as Total and ENI are heavily invested in Mozambique, making the region a cornerstone of Europe’s diversification strategy. Minister Macamo’s visit represents a troubling attempt to trade human lives and democratic principles for energy security. Such a move would betray the EU’s foundational values, undermining its credibility as a global defender of democracy and human rights. Instead, Europe should suspend all negotiations and agreements tied to Mozambique’s gas resources until the regime halts its violent suppression of citizens and commits to free and fair elections. Mozambique’s crisis is not just a national issue; it is a litmus test of the European Union’s moral authority and commitment to its core values. Will Europe stand for democracy and human rights, or will it trade them away for natural gas? The world is watching. Today’s meeting presents a crucial opportunity for the EU to reaffirm its principles, reject authoritarianism, and stand in solidarity with the Mozambican people in their fight for justice and democracy. I hope so! #NoBloodForGas #RespectOurVotes @indignadosmoz

Ukrainians' overwhelming support for EU membership is rooted in a perception of the EU not only as a regional bloc but also as a beacon of a democratic normative order. The union should recognize its democratic pull factor and leverage it strategically, writes Olga (Olya, Ola) Onuch in her latest. https://lnkd.in/e_zha3Pu #Ukraine #EU #enlargement #democracy

Stellar line-up to a question that dovetailed really well with the recent Körber Stiftung 185th Bergedorf roundtable in Chisinau. There, the immensely stimulating debates were focused on "Out of the Grey Zone: Ensuring Stability and Security in the Eastern Partnership Area". Thank you Thomas Paulsen and Nora Muller and their great team who made it possible. My latest Q - Will enlargement spur EU reforms? amounts to a seminar of sorts. Many thanks to Oana Popescu-Zamfir and Marie Dumoulin (who were in Chisinau), Ian Bond, Viktor Szep, Paul Taylor, Pierre Vimont, Agnieszka Leguca, John O'Brennan, Dimitar Bechev, Krzysztof Bledowski, Rosa Balfour, Mary C Murphy, Ivan Vejvoda Those in the EU institutions and in the member states who are opposed to enlargement but won't exactly say it instead insist that it cannot happen without first reforming the EU. That begs the Q what sort of reforms would be needed (voting, CAP, among others) and who would support it. EU doesn't have much time to lose. Enlargement is a major geo-strategic necessity. Russia knows this; our Eastern neighbors know this. The EU should know this too. https://lnkd.in/eK8jwzcq I’ll be promoting shortly!  

What is Germany’s view on EU enlargement? In a new European Policy Analysis, Theresia Töglhofer (German Council on Foreign Relations) describes the evolution of Berlin’s policy on the future shape of the EU. Consolidation was once seen as a prerequisite, now the geopolitical context means that the enlargement of a (reformed) Union is considered vital.

https://lnkd.in/ec_JqXNb <<Over the years, EU member states have ceded a large number of policy areas, or “competences,” to the byzantine bureaucracy in Brussels. Some have been ceded completely, in which case elected public officials at the national level have no choice but to implement decisions made in Brussels. Some have been ceded partially, in which case elected public officials at the national level are limited in their ability to influence decisions made in Brussels. In both cases, the voters’ ability to effect changes of policy through their elected representatives and to hold those representatives responsible in free and fair elections is rendered meaningless. The problem of the democratic deficit is compounded by two inconvenient facts. First, the nation-state remains the basic building block of international relations, including European. The national identities of European states have been evolving separately, and often in competition with one another, for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years. The Greeks were first unified by the Argead dynasty in the 4th century BCE. A relative newcomer, England, was first unified a thousand years ago and developed a set of unique institutions, such as parliamentary sovereignty, which does not exist on the continent.>> #deficit #democracy #EU #nationalism #Greeck #Europeans #Brussels #elections #dinasty #competition #eurocrats #Europeancommission #internationalrelations #BCE #nationstate #lobby #crisis #institutions

New contribution in our forum where leading experts discuss EU enlargement and reform.

Questions surrounding the issue of EU enlargement remain unanswered. Even though aspiring candidates are aplenty, certain geopolitical factors appear to have paralysed the EU's expansion. This includes countries like Georgia, currently experiencing an intense period of domestic instability regarding the nature of the country's future foreign policy trajectory. What are the broader implications of this for the South Caucasus and what does the Georgian case suggest about the state of European integration? In my analysis for Trend News Agency, I take a close look at these questions and more. https://lnkd.in/ej3x-EVf