On the 20th anniversary of the Czech Republic's entry into the European Union, President Petr Pavel voiced strong support for further EU expansion.
As reported by the German news agency DPA, President Pavel addressed this issue during a conference commemorating this milestone. He described the expansion of the European Union as a "geostrategic necessity."
Pavel expressed concern over the potential geopolitical consequences of delaying the membership of countries like Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and those in the Western Balkans.
"If we leave these nations at the threshold of EU membership for an extended period, we risk abandoning them to the influence of hostile powers like Russia, which harbors ill intentions towards Europeans and Europe at large," he cautioned.
Calls for EU Reforms
In his speech, President Pavel also advocated for necessary reforms within the European Union. He stressed that the EU could "definitely" improve its operations and policies to better accommodate new members.
This stance is echoed by other European leaders.
Recently, Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, voiced strong support for the swift admission of Western Balkan countries into the EU. Similarly, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has highlighted the importance of focusing on the accession of Western Balkan countries, suggesting that "Eastern enlargement" should follow thereafter.
