DW: You once said that the theme of Enlargear runs like a red thread through your life. What do you mean by that?
Marta Kos: I am great in Communist Yugoslavia and when my country, Slovenia decided to reduce freedom, the greatest will belonging to the values of democracy and democracy.
Therefore, from the beginning, when we gained independence in 1991, we fought for it. When Slovenia became a member of the European Union in 2004, it was one of the most pleasant days of my life.
Slovenia is only 2 million people and a country of 20,000 square kilometers. What can a small country alone do in this world where you need realities? You have to connect with some strength in the world. The European Union has brought all this, and I am very happy that citizens of Slovenia still support it a lot.
Depending on the experience of Slovenia, what lesson is needed to learn and implement the member states of the European Union?
KOS: What we have learned is that the membership of the European Union is nothing, but there is something that you have to fight really.
And it is very important that the leadership of leadership [candidate] The country actually supports it, as the advertisement process is a transition process. Now we have some candidates where leadership is very real.
But if the leadership is not doing so, how can the citizens believe – or should believe – that the membership of the European Union is good?
The second lesson is that this is not just an economy. When Slovenia became a member, we saw our membership mostly through the lens of prosperity.
But today, the membership of the European Union is about peace. Can you imagine that in 2025, we are again speaking about the fact that the European Union is to provide peace in Europe or freedom or security? These are actually basics, which is why the European Union was established.
In 2022, Ukraine is having a significant speed for Russia’s invasion. How are things developing in this regard?
KOS: It is surprising what Ukrainians are doing today. While the bombs are falling on their country, they are interacting on the approval of the European Union. They are required to improve – and there are plenty of improvements.
Therefore, we are ready to open a cluster on the original. And by the end of the year, we will be ready to open all the clusters, which means, the actual work of talks will be possible.
Indeed, the conflict with Russia did not begin in 2022 when the war began. It began in 2014 when Ukraine wanted to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union and someone – Putin’s rule opposed it.
I will do everything I can do that Ukraine will be as a member of the European Union – as our President Ursula von Der Leyen says, perhaps even before 2030.
What is being included in the European Union is still mainly determined by merit, or whether geo -political factors now lift more weight?
KOS: This is a very good question, which I am asked many times. Therefore, on the one hand more important-imperialist and safety needs and the other is imported on merit-based principles, but we spend the country’s states that are not ready for the European economic market and of course to protect the rule of democracy and law.
This is why, of course, the merit-based principle will remain a foundation stone of the Acation process, because through that process, we actually test the country, day areas, media in the field of freedom or in the entire law of law field.
What is the European Union doing to support Moldova, where Russia is trying to make more impact?
KOS: It is unprecedented how aggressive Russian propaganda in Moldova is. All [Russia] Million is investing millions of euros to prevent Moldova from going to European way. But the European Union has become smarter in previous years.
Therefore, for the first time we are now deploying what we call Hybrid Rapid Response Team from EAS [European External Action Service] With some members of the members of the states, and we are helping Moldova, with his government, to fight the Russian narratives.
They are very aggressive and they “if you go in European way, then there will be the same war in Ukraine, which will also be in Ukraine. If you become a member of the European Union, you will loose your identity.”
I come from a country that is smaller than Moldova and in fact the membership of the European Union is preserving our identity.
This is a new approach, and we are very helpful in creating a strong basic to be a member of the European Union for Ukraine and Moldova and therefore Western Balkan countries.
And what about Serbia?
KOS: Serbia is in a very difficult situation, and we, the European Union, Serbia and Serbians greatly support the European methods. But there is a lot that still needs to be done.
Even if Serbia has been a candidate for many years, he has not yet made all reforms. Therefore, we are helping them in thesis corrections.
On the other hand, we now have a bee for a expression for some monirs now when we are bees, people who are not happy with the situation they are. And every government should consider what its own citizens are saying.
To some extent, the protesters are demanding the same kind of demand we are demanding from the European Union-Surbia, which means: anti-corruption [measures]Law rule, media freedom. Therefore, real, we have a common interest here, and I hope that we will be able to realize the real Serbia really.
In Georgia, a lot of European flags were being waved during the protest. Why is this not so in Serbia?
KOS: It is on interests. I am in constant touch with Civil Society Organizations, Professors and Universities in Serbia and I asked many people, this is the same question.
What he told me was very interesting. The first thing was: “You are supporting the President Vucic. Second, you bomb us. Well, it was NATO but you bomb our country.
So, the answers go in very different directions. These are feelings that we have to consider – and this plan – to communicate the benefits of better European Union.
So, if Kosovo questions are not resolved, how is this possible? And how is it compatible with people?
KOS: Yes, this is really a question. I like to say that once the country decides to take the path of the European Union, it comes with obligations and responsibilities. So, this is an option. Nobody is forcing Serbia.
But once you say “yes, we want to be a member of the European Union,” then it will have to do it. Many things have to be done. I hope that we will be able to better interpret the benefits of the informative or why the European Union is good for Serbia.
Candidates are issues at the country level, but therefore within the European Union: there are a lot of fragmentation. How do you treat leaders like Victor Orban?
KOS: In the account process we need unanimous decisions, which means that all 27 member states will have to agree with a decision.
There was a public consultation in Hungary where politicians told us that people were against the European Union Ukrainian membership. But I can tell you, so we conducted a survey in Eurobarometer, which has not been published yet, where Hungary is 64% or 65% of citizens in support.
So, dialogue, creative dialogue, finding a solution, this is the only way of this situation. We are talking to Hungary, and I hope we will find solutions with other member states.
But what is your plan for Orban?
KOS: We have no plans for orbons, we have a plan for the account process and there, we will find a solution.
Edited by: Angle Flangon
