site.btaMEP Radan Kanev: EU Will Not Expand in Next Term of European Institutions

Bulgarian MEP Radan Kanev believes that the EU will not expand in the next term of the European institutions and Europe's ability to allocate funds will decrease. In his words, the EU faces difficult economic and financial years. "In the foreseeable future, we cannot expect an effective enlargement of the European Union in the next term of the European Commission and the European Parliament," he told BTA, commenting on the prospects for EU enlargement to the Western Balkans.

According to Kanev, the integration of policies such as the Green Deal could speed up the accession process of candidates for EU membership but requires member states themselves to be committed to these policies, which means to increase funding from the European budget.

Radan Kanev is an MEP of the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party (part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition) and a representative of the European People's Party group in the European Parliament. He is the shadow rapporteur on a legislative act on zero net emission industry. He expects the legislation relating to the Green Deal to be revised before it is adopted.

"Probably for the first time, for sure in my opinion, [EU] legislation will be revised before it is passed [...] Much of the Fit for 55 package is geared towards forcing up carbon prices. At the time those amendments were voted in, the expectation was that the political shift following the era of [US President Donald] Trump in the US would lead to similar policies on the other side of the Atlantic. If they pursue a targeted common policy, the EU, the US and Canada are an absolutely compelling economic factor," Kanev told journalists earlier at a training organized jointly by the BTA and the EP.

The Fit for 55 package is a set of proposals to revise and update EU legislation and to put in place new initiatives with the aim of ensuring that EU policies are in line with the climate goals agreed by the Council and the European Parliament.

The MEP added that the administration of current US President Joe Biden has adopted ambitious climate policies, but quite different of those of the EU. According to Kanev, this is likely to lead to a revision of the legislation relating to the Green Deal and finding a mechanism to amend the just-adopted EU Emissions Trading System Directive.

Kanev pointed out that countries such as Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, which although close geographically, have political disagreements, could unite around a cause such as increasing their renewable energy shares. He said there is a critical level of mistrust in the societies and political elites in both countries which must be overcome.

In his words, common policies in the field of economic modernization are possible. Some of the green policies could be very simple, taking rail connectivity for example. Rail connectivity between Bulgaria and North Macedonia has been a long-standing issue. The two countries can push in that direction to find a solution. Kanev added that the region could also work on electricity and gas connectivity, which are also policies related to the Green Deal.

And yet, according to him, the Western Balkan countries will still not have an economic interest to implement policy initiatives under the Green Deal before they are bound to it.

Kanev pointed to Croatia as an example of a country with brilliant experience in the use of geothermal energy for balancing its energy mix, as well as for using it for heating projects and for storing energy from renewable sources. According to the Bulgarian MEP, the use of geothermal energy can provide great opportunities for Bulgaria, as well.

"We urgently need to start attracting both European and private investors, and start investing in this area," Kanev emphasized.