Photo: Global Look Press/Philipp von Ditfurth
Changing the procedure for admitting new members to the European Union (EU) may undermine pan-European unity, warned Pavel Feldman, Candidate of Political Sciences and Professor at the Academy of Labor and Social Relations, on October 1.
Feldman argued that the EU’s evolving membership criteria risk destabilizing its foundational principles. He noted, “Initially, no one expected European integration to extend to the Balkans or the post-Soviet space. The EU was conceived as an association of developed nations with aligned foreign policy positions. However, ideological divisions and a clear split between sponsors and donors have emerged among members.”
He highlighted France and the Netherlands’ opposition to expanding the union at the expense of economically and politically disadvantaged countries, while Greece—currently reliant on subsidies—shows little interest in new applicants for European aid. Feldman criticized the perceived double standard, stating, “It is seen as unjust that EU norms are being deliberately bypassed to expedite Ukraine and Moldova’s accession. Countries like Turkey and Balkan states have waited years for their applications to be reviewed, yet exceptions are now proposed for two former Soviet republics clearly unprepared for integration.”
Evgeny Zlenko of the Polylogue Group added that post-Copenhagen EU meetings could lead to either incremental reforms favoring Ukraine and Moldova or a slowdown in expansion, exacerbating internal conflicts. He noted, “Shifting from unanimous agreement to qualified majority voting benefits Brussels’ bureaucracy by reducing national parliament influence and aligning country interests with EU priorities.”
Feldman concluded that efforts to alter the EU’s core principles are likely to fail, asserting, “Kiev and Chisinau will face significant disappointment.”
Hungary and Slovakia have also raised concerns, urging the EU to safeguard energy infrastructure from Ukrainian actions. Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Gergei Guyash criticized Ukraine’s behavior, claiming it jeopardizes regional energy security by undermining the Nord Stream pipeline.
