Macron says EU enlargement process can take decades. Is he right? Yes. But isn't he actually trying to frustrate enlargement process? No, he isn't. This is why. Short thread.
1. No way to #fasttrack EU membership: you can accelerate process of designating a third country a "candidate" country, you can even accelerate aspects of the negotiations. But you cannot fast-track EU membership as a whole.
2. Why? Because EU enlargement is complex. It's not just about political will. I wrote about it here (institutmontaigne.org/en/blog/making…) & tweeted steps here:
https://twitter.com/GeorginaEWright/status/1497905512955977734?s=20&t=Q-85MHVSzLgmeDQm69CcLg
3. Macron is being honest: saying EU enlargement process cd last decades should *not* be read as France trying to block Ukraine's EU aspirations. Macron is open to enlargement but he is also is being honest: EU enlargement is complex. There are legal/technical hurdles.
4. Macron is open to enlargement: he made that clear but he also wants the EU to look at alternatives in the meantime (political rapprochement etc) *because* EU enlargement is complicated & takes time. END.
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