Baerbock-Germany Could Give Up Commission Seat For Enlargement Nations

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has been speaking at the Ministerial Conference on EU Enlargement and Reform in Berlin regarding the prospect of European Union enlargement. This comes days after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited a number of countries in the Western Balkans that sit at various stages on the path to EU accession.

• Lisa O'Carroll at The Guardian posts on X: "[...] interesting speech by German foreign minister [Annalena] Baerbock just now on enlargement. Countries must not be left in waiting room for years. Those that complete reforms shd get observer status at EU summits, Erasumus access to EU universities, roaming, visa-free travel. [...] Germany would even be willing to give up its commissioner seat in Brussels for a time to make way for new countries in EU. (At [the moment] each country has a commissioner. In a 35 state EU some think that may not be possible so Germany's gesture significant)."
• The assignment of individuals to a Commissioner position is seen as an important political tool for member state gov'ts, both in terms of who is given the position as well as what Directorates-General they are assigned to (Economy, Budget, Trade etc.)