European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stated that countries aiming for EU membership must be stable democracies capable of resisting external influences, especially those from Russia.
During a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Kos stressed that the integration process must continue through deep reforms, underlining that there can be no shortcuts to EU membership.
According to her, the implementation of reforms is essential to increase the credibility of the enlargement process, while emphasizing that the EU must also fulfill its commitments to candidate countries.
"Countries joining the EU must be strong and stable democracies, capable of resisting the toxic influence of Russia and others. There can be no shortcuts in reform," Kos declared.
She also warned that the union cannot accept countries that could harm its functioning from within.
"No Trojan horses. Countries that would undermine us from within cannot become member states. We must fully ensure this," Kos said in a statement published on the social network X.
