Speaking at the Euronews Enlargement Summit in Brussels on Tuesday, Euronews Chairman Pedro Vargas David advocated for the rapid expansion of the European Union, specifically proposing a "Gibraltar model" to quickly integrate Western Balkan nations into the Schengen area.
During the summit, which gathered political leaders, experts, and business representatives, David outlined a fast-tracked approach involving potential adjustments to standard member state rights and obligations, such as voting powers and program access. He urged the European Council and Parliament to debate the proposal, pointing to recent democratic elections in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as reflections of the populations' will despite imperfections.
David also emphasized the urgency of EU enlargement to reunite the continent, warning that missing the current historical opportunity could allow other global actors to step in. Current public backing for EU enlargement sits at nearly 53% among EU citizens, with varying levels of support across member states.
