The European Union has passed a progress report on the EU's enlargement strategy that reiterates the EU's firm commitment to candidate countries already on their way to achieving Member status and countries that have been given clear membership prospects. However, the report also notes that "future enlargements will require more stable democratic support from the EU's population". Whilst past enlargements have generally been a success, the report points out, more attention should be paid to future enlargements if the stability of the Union is to be maintained.

Commenting, Istvan SZENT-IVANYI (SDSZ, Hungary), ALDE co-shadow rapporteur, said:

"Enlargement has been one of the EU's most successful common policies. It would be a grave mistake to interpret the outcome of the Irish referendum as a call to halt the process. The Union must learn the lessons of previous enlargement rounds and adopt a realistic approach towards candidate and potential candidate countries - but it is in the interest of all Member States and European citizens to honour our commitments and continue enlargement based on the Copenhagen criteria."

Bronislaw GEREMEK (PD, Poland), ALDE co-shadow rapporteur, added:

"The report of Elmar Brok confirms the accuracy of the European Union's enlargement strategy. The hope of European nations, which aspire to joining the European Union and are ready to fulfil the basic criteria, are fully supported. The term of "integration capacity", which is a precondition for the accession decision, has been clearly defined. The ones who hoped that the European Parliament would announce the end of enlargement and put in place some substitutes of full accession are today disappointed."