The implications of the 2024 European Parliament elections for the enlargement process
The question of EU enlargement remains central to discussions surrounding the recent 2024 EU elections. While the centre retains a majority with 403 seats out of the 720-member chamber, significant gains have been made by far-right formations. But how will this new composition of the European Parliament affect foreign policy decisions regarding enlargement, especially in the case of Moldova?
The newly elected European Parliament will have an important say on the different modalities in which the European enlargement will take place in the future. The new composition will have an important role in steering the politics of enlargement forward and foster the debate about the future of Europe and its citizens. Despite the institutional setup of the EU, where member states hold authority in foreign and security policy, the European Parliament retains competencies that can exert influence.
First, the European Parliament has supervisory and deliberative powers. This competence is crucial as it influences the discourse on foreign policy. Second, the European Parliament plays a significant role in the drafting and shaping of lawsin the field of external action concerning negotiation and ratification of international agreements. Thus, Parliament approval is necessary for any new accession to the EU. Last, the European Parliament holds budgetary powers. Through these, Parliament exerts significant influence over the financial aspects of accession, enabling the institution to directly shape allocations for the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance and other types of resources dedicated to candidate countries. Astfel, Parlamentul European are ultimul cuvânt în dezbaterea bugetară, care reprezintă nucleul definirii priorităților de politică externă și implementarea acestora.
The rightward shift in the European Parliament is more likely to frame the agenda-setting of enlargement in a polarised manner. Even though the European Council is the key institution for EU enlargement, the European Parliament elections provides an early glimpse of the challenges the Council may face in the near future. If the current political trend is not reversed, greater far-right representation in the European Council – determined by national elections – will pose even deeper challenges to future enlargement policy. For instance, the recent electoral shifts in France, signalling a rightward trend, hint at broader dynamics affecting future policy decisions, including those regarding enlargement. Should these trends persist, changes in national government towards the extreme-right may align with countries such as Hungary to impede enlargement-related decisions, fueled by national interests. Therefore, the rightward shift in the European Parliament has the potential to polarise the agenda-setting of enlargement, posing significant challenges to the EU’s cohesion and credibility as a democracy-exporting entity regarding enlargement.
Nevertheless, the continuity of the “super grand coalition” ensures a stable environment for enlargement within the EU, maintaining a consistent approach toward the integration of new Member States. With the EU’s steadfast commitment to its enlargement policy, the Republic of Moldova can expect a continued and unwavering support for its integration process. This assurance implies that despite political shifts, Europeanist parties have prevailed in the 2024 European Parliament elections, ensuring that the trajectory of Moldova’s enlargement remains on course, fostering a sense of reliability and consistency in the integration process. Moreover, the impact of the EU elections also extended beyond the borders of Europe, reaching the citizens of Moldova.
Over a quarter of Moldova’s population holds Romanian citizenship, having the legal right to participate in the European elections. With 56,713 citizens voting from Moldova in the 2024 EU elections, and 52 voting sections across the country, these votes constituted approximately 25% of the total votes cast in the Romanian diaspora, reflecting Moldovans’ keen interest in the direction of the European Union. As Siegfried Muresan outlined, the significant voter turnout in Moldova is a strong argument for all of Europe that the population of the Republic of Moldova has a say in the direction the European Union is heading. In this new mandate as well, there will be MEPs supporting Moldova’s integration into the EU, ensuring that Moldova moves closer and closer on the path of integration. Messages of gratitude and support echoed from individuals eager to be part of the European project from within, reaffirming their civic engagement and willingness to contribute to the continent’s shared future.
In sum, the future is not bleak for Moldova. While the far-right parties pose potential challenges to the EU’s enlargement agenda, the sustained influence of the pro-European coalition ensures a steady and supportive path for countries like Moldova. The 2024 EU elections underscore the dynamic and often contentious nature of EU politics, but they also highlight the resilience and commitment of Europeanist parties to the broader project of European enlargement. Moving forward, it is imperative for both Moldova and the EU to continue their collaborative efforts and mutual commitment through an increased number of projects at the local and national level, and for citizens to receive comprehensive education on the topic of enlargement across all Member States to ensure informed decisions when selecting national and supranational representatives. Only through such efforts can the European project progress cohesively and inclusively.
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This blog article is signed by Delia Dincă, who is currently pursuing an internship at the Institute of European Policies and Reforms (IPRE).
