MEPs debate EU enlargement at Euronews Summit in Brussels

Pedro Vargas David, the owner and chairman of Euronews, advocated for a swift expansion of the European Union during the Euronews Enlargement Summit in Brussels. He urged policymakers, political leaders, experts, and business representatives to join the bloc as quickly as possible, emphasizing that candidate countries such as Albania, Georgia, Serbia, and Ukraine see themselves as worthy members of the EU.

The demand for rapid enlargement is particularly strong in these countries, as over 90% of Albanians support EU accession, while Turkey and Serbia have the lowest support at 46% and 31%, respectively.

David praised the candidacy of Armenia and Georgia, highlighting their European culture and tradition. He questioned whether some candidates have too low support numbers, and questioned whether EU ambassadors in these countries are often seen as spokespersons for their nations' shortcomings rather than promoters of their positive attributes.

To address these concerns, David proposed a "Gibraltar model" for the Western Balkan nations, which would allow for a fast-tracked membership with potential adjustments to member state rights and obligations, such as reduced veto power and voting privileges.

He called for a debate on this matter, both within the Council and Parliament. David also pointed to recent democratic elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia as evidence of support for EU membership, despite some challenges. He emphasized the importance of a rapid enlargement, stating that Europe has a unique historical opportunity, and urged Europeans to step up their efforts or risk being left behind by others.

In terms of public opinion, almost 53% of EU citizens support enlargement, but support varies significantly among EU countries. In Sweden, 79% of the population back enlargement, while in France, support is much lower at 35%. To increase support for enlargement, David suggested that more than two-thirds of Europeans are not well-informed and would change their views if provided with the right information.

He emphasized that political leaders and the media, including Euronews, have a responsibility to inform the public accurately.

Finally, David called for the United Kingdom to rejoin the EU at the upcoming summit. He noted that 60% of British people want to return to the EU, stating that the UK would be poorer and weaker without Europe, and Europe would be stronger without the UK. He urged the reintegration of the UK into the EU, comparing it to the idea of Euronews becoming the "Rejoin TV."