Timmermans doesn’t want to do the “dirty work”
Minister Frans Timmermans (Foreign Affairs) does not want to
the “dirty work” for other European countries by prematurely opposing
Albania’s membership. He will look for allies within Europe to support
his position.The European Committee wants
to make Albania a candidate member. European heads of State and
government leaders will decide on the matter later this month. The Dutch
government does not feel Albania is ready yet to receive this status
(‘a political gesture,’ in the words of Timmermans.) The country
complied with the political conditions, but has not implemented all of
them yet, according to Timmermans. If the Balkan country is ready by the
middle of next year, it should be granted the candidate membership
after all.
European Commission / Flickr
A majority of the House (VVD, SP, PVV, ChristenUnie, and CDA) is
against the candidate membership of Albania, revealed a debate about the
expansion of the EU Wednesday. If the Dutch reveal their position now,
the Netherlands will find itself alone in a corner of the EU, explained
the Minister. Other countries who share the opinion that Albania is not
ready, will leave the “dirty work” up to the Dutch. The Netherlands will
have to deal with all the criticism, and other countries will stay
“below the wind.” Timmermans does not feel like playing that game.
The House eventually agreed with the proposition of the Minister to
give him until next week to find allies in other European countries.
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