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Europe Today: Euronews-Erweiterungsgipfel startet in Brüssel, US-Midterms testen Trump
Brüssel richtet den Euronews-Gipfel zur EU-Erweiterung aus: Montenegro, Albanien und Ukraine drängen in die EU; Gespräch mit den EU-Botschaftern Petar Marković und Taras Kachka sowie einem Republikaner-Strategen zu Trumps Prüfung bei den US-Zwischenwahlen.
LESEN SIE MEHR : http://de.euronews.com/2026/11/03/euronews-erweiterungsgipfel-in-brussel-vereint-eu-spitzen-und-beitrittskandidaten
Abonnieren Sie! Euronews gibt es in 12 Sprachen.
Brüssel richtet den Euronews-Gipfel zur EU-Erweiterung aus: Montenegro, Albanien und Ukraine drängen in die EU; Gespräch mit den EU-Botschaftern Petar Marković und Taras Kachka sowie einem Republikaner-Strategen zu Trumps Prüfung bei den US-Zwischenwahlen.
LESEN SIE MEHR : http://de.euronews.com/2026/11/03/euronews-erweiterungsgipfel-in-brussel-vereint-eu-spitzen-und-beitrittskandidaten
Abonnieren Sie! Euronews gibt es in 12 Sprachen.
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00:01Untertitelung des ZDF für funk, 2017
00:30The Euronews Enlargement Summit brings together EU leaders and the countries hoping to join the bloc, as enlargement moves from
00:38a distant ambition to a very real political question.
00:41Montenegro and Albania are closing in on membership, while Ukraine and others are looking to Europe amid a changing geopolitical
00:49landscape.
00:50America is heading towards a political showdown today.
00:53As polls open for the midterm elections in just a few hours, Donald Trump faces a crucial test of his
01:00presidency.
01:01Republicans are fighting to hold on to their majorities in Congress, while Democrats see an opportunity to regain power and
01:08put the White House under pressure.
01:10The stakes are enormous, not just for Trump's domestic agenda, but for the future direction of American politics.
01:18And Belgium's Prime Minister Barth de Wever offered his government's resignation to King Philippe yesterday.
01:24It came after overnight negotiations with his core cabinet on the budget failed to reach an agreement.
01:30The king now wants to consult the coalition party leaders starting today.
01:34The Wever is set to meet with the monarch again on Friday.
01:38The Belgian budget deficit amounted to 5% last year, while only 3% is permitted under European rules.
01:46Welcome to the program. I'm Stefan Grobe.
01:49But first, in Brussels today, Euronews will bring together heads of state and governments from some of the countries aspiring
01:56to become the next members of the European Union.
01:58Euronews' enlargement summit gets underway later this morning, with discussions to focus on the progress of EU candidate countries, the
02:08reforms required on both sides, and the economic opportunities and implications of EU enlargement.
02:14Our correspondent, Marit Gwynne-Jones, is standing by for us.
02:18Marit, give us a taste of what we can expect today.
02:25Well, yes, Stefan, preparations well underway here for a summit that really comes at what feels like a pivotal moment
02:32for the EU's efforts to enlarge.
02:35Accepting new member countries is being described as a geopolitical imperative amid the war in Ukraine, perceived security threats and
02:44also increased geopolitical competition.
02:46We know that the question of Ukraine's future EU membership is becoming intertwined with ongoing peace negotiations.
02:54We will be hearing from the Ukrainian prime minister here at the Euronews summit later today.
03:00But also in the Western Balkans, there is a feeling that we are on the verge of a major breakthrough,
03:05with Montenegro looking to become the EU's next member state within the course of next year.
03:11There have been some doubts over whether bilateral disputes between the Croatian and the Montenegrin governments could send that timetable
03:20back.
03:20We will be hearing from both governments, including from the Croatian prime minister, Andrei Plenković.
03:26But, Stefan, we can expect some tough conversations here today as well.
03:30We'll be hearing from Edi Rama, the prime minister of Albania, just as anti-government protests continue to rage on
03:37in the country,
03:38as well as from the Georgian prime minister, just two years after his country's bid to become an EU member
03:44was halted by Brussels over concerns over a crackdown on dissent.
03:50So expect a lot of conversations with major leaders here today on an issue that Stefan really is becoming an
03:58issue that is top of the political agenda here in Brussels.
04:02Merit Gwynne-Jones from the Euronews Enlargement Summit at Autoworld.
04:07And now to a very special candidate country, Ukraine.
04:11Kiev hopes to open its two remaining EU negotiating clusters before the end of the year, despite delays in Budapest.
04:18In an exclusive interview with Euronews, ahead of the European Commission's latest enlargement report,
04:24Ukraine's ambassador to the EU, Taras Kachka, said there were no substantive disagreements with Hungary holding up the process.
04:32He also defended Kiev's progress on reforms, despite concerns over delays in adopting key legislation.
04:39For more on this, our Ukraine correspondent, Sasha Vakulina, joins me now in the studio.
04:44Good morning, Sasha.
04:46Good morning.
04:46So the European Commission is about to release its latest enlargement assessment.
04:52How does Ukraine see its progress towards EU membership and what challenges does Kiev also see?
05:00Kiev does see challenges, but what is important, and this is something that Taras Kachka told me,
05:06is for Ukraine to get the timeline and to get the timeline not postponed, but rather fast-tracked.
05:12This was, of course, an exclusive interview, the first one since Taras Kachka took over the new position as the
05:17head of the mission of Ukraine to the European Union.
05:20So it was really interesting to see his perspective.
05:22Also, of course, given Ukraine's unique case.
05:24Now, we are talking about the country almost five years into defending itself against Russia's brutal, full-scale invasion,
05:32implementing those reforms and pushing to open those clusters during the all-out war.
05:38And at the same time, when you look at all the candidates, Stefan, of course, Ukraine, regarding its size and
05:43importance,
05:44this is a different case which will be much harder for the European Union to accept and to digest.
05:48Let's take a listen to what he said.
05:51The report should highlight how fast we can move on closing the chapters, but also indicating what are the maybe
06:01some challenges.
06:02We do not see challenges in domestic politics in terms of applying a key.
06:07We might see challenges that are stemming from security situation, Russian aggression,
06:11and the fact that Ukraine is really one of the biggest candidate status among the four frontrunners.
06:20It's definitely the biggest one, so therefore there might be more complex negotiations, but it is not a problem.
06:27You've mentioned the challenge.
06:28Some of those are in regards to Ukraine's reform commitment.
06:32Some important reforms have faced delays in the parliament in Kyiv.
06:37What is holding up this progress?
06:39Government and parliament is getting stronger in the recent weeks, so therefore the tempo will be only faster.
06:47At least I expect this, and there are chances for this.
06:50So therefore I think that Ukraine definitely is delivering, is getting to deliver faster and better,
06:56and I hope that the enlargement package report will confirm that this general assessment of Ukraine being able to adopt
07:04everything by the end of 2027,
07:06and therefore be advanced in 2027 with closing chapters will be confirmed.
07:13I've got to mention the amended minority education legislation, which was of course crucial as it cleared the way for
07:20two Monegu sitting clusters to open,
07:22and yet Hungary now blocked the progress on the two remaining clusters.
07:26What does Budapest want now?
07:30I think that this word block misleads us.
07:35Indeed, Hungary requested an additional time for consideration for brainstorming on certain decisions.
07:43For the second and third clusters, we adopted what we agreed previously,
07:49and it was something that was elaborated during previous several years.
07:54Therefore, it was well known for Ukrainian society, for Ukrainian MPs,
08:00and it was rather additional boost for decision-making in Hungary.
08:04So now we see that we have a full mutual understanding of Hungary,
08:09so therefore it is a matter of time and planning how we open remaining two clusters before the end of
08:17this year.
08:17You say Hungary and the government in Budapest is taking its time a little bit.
08:21Does it still have to do with the minority education rights, or there is another reason?
08:26No, it's a matter of processing.
08:28On the same issue, on the minority rights?
08:30No, no, generally, so that for the clusters, clusters 4 and 5, for the policies that are covered.
08:34But it's a different issue, not the one that has already been sorted.
08:37This is what I'm trying to understand.
08:38There are no issues.
08:39There is a processing of all these documents.
08:41Right.
08:42So there are no substantive requirements, disagreements, or concerns.
08:46So this is rather a matter of how the documents are processed, assessed, read,
08:51because there are like several hundred pages of documents in this, let's say, support in the opening of this cluster.
08:57Right.
08:58And on the minority education legislation, all adopted, all agreed, has it been implemented in Ukraine?
09:03Yes, they work, these rules are works.
09:06So they're all in place?
09:07Some of them, let's say, have been de facto operational even before,
09:11so now they properly work for everyone, for every school with national minorities.
09:18When we spoke last time, I asked you about the possibility of Ukraine getting the idea floated by some member
09:24states
09:25about the associate membership and somehow half steps towards that.
09:28Does that change the take for Kyiv, knowing that there is another country that might get
09:32different type of associate membership, half-stepping into the European Union?
09:39The case of Canada illustrates that associate membership is a term that is rather better suits
09:45the partnerships with friends who are friends, but rather distance and will not join the European Union.
09:54I hope that we will still have four frontrunners with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania.
10:00And it means that the EU sees us as a frontrunner, so that's why we don't need to shift to
10:09any alternatives.
10:13Ukraine's ambassador Taras Kachka speaking to Sasha Vakulina.
10:18Montenegro wants to become the European Union's next success story.
10:22After years of negotiations, Portgorica is presenting itself as the frontrunner among the Western Balkan candidates.
10:29But the final stretch may prove the hardest.
10:32Judicial independence, corruption and the rule of law remain key tests.
10:37And questions remain about whether the EU itself is politically ready to welcome new members.
10:43To go deeper into this topic, I'm now joined in our studio by Montenegro's ambassador to the European Union,
10:49Peter Markovic.
10:50Good morning and welcome.
10:51Good morning. Thank you for having me.
10:52So Montenegro has repeatedly presented itself as the frontrunner in the EU enlargement process.
11:00Why should people believe that this time membership is just around the corner?
11:05Well, because it's not Montenegro presenting itself as a frontrunner.
11:09It's the European Commission.
11:10And just in the last year, 14 times all EU member states agreed with the Commission that we are the
11:19frontrunner
11:19because that's how many chapters we close between the last report and the incoming one coming, well, being published tomorrow.
11:26So that means that all EU 27 member states and the institutions of the EU repeatedly claim Montenegro is the
11:36frontrunner
11:36and we indeed are because we have been working around the clock for years now.
11:42And this summer we didn't even have a summer break.
11:45We were really working around the clock to fulfill 150 deliverables in the rule of law area.
11:52So when you say it's now the test of fighting corruption and boostering our rule of law, this is not
11:59now the test.
12:00This test has been passed.
12:01We have forwarded to the Commission the reports claiming and showing evidence by evidence that we have fulfilled these 150
12:11deliverables.
12:11You have said 2028, that's not that far away, as your target for EU accession.
12:18Now, is this still a realistic deadline or has it become a political slogan?
12:23No, not at all.
12:24It's very much realistic.
12:26Just a few weeks ago, the president of the Commission, Madame von der Leyen, was in Podgorica
12:30and she said, we believe in Montenegro becoming the 28 member by the end of 2028.
12:35So it is on track, not just by Montenegro's standards, but by those who actually are deciding.
12:43What are the two or three biggest obstacles Montenegro still needs to overcome before it can close the accession process?
12:53So, but there is now an ongoing process to amend our constitution for the second time in just a few
13:02months as part of the obligations in Chapter 23 on judiciary and justice.
13:09It is a process which is lengthy because our constitution cannot be changed at once.
13:14It's a three-prong process and we are now halfway through it and we expect to do it within this
13:19month.
13:20So this is the biggest domestic obstacle we are facing.
13:23We are also facing the intensified talks with our closest EU member state and neighbor Croatia to resolve some open
13:35questions of mutual interest,
13:37which we are confident will be done satisfactorily for both sides, also record quickly in order for the process to
13:45not stall.
13:47And how much of the remaining work is in Montenegro's hands and how much depends on decisions made in Brussels
13:54and in EU capitals?
13:56So, there's 33 negotiated chapters at this point.
14:01We have submitted all the reports and done all the homework testifying that we have not only adopted legislation,
14:08but employed people, changed things on the ground.
14:11All this has been done some 10 days ago.
14:15So Montenegro has finished its homework at this stage of our accession saga,
14:20and it's really in the hands of the EU member states now.
14:25Yeah, it is a saga.
14:26When did it first start?
14:27We applied for, well, the negotiations really started in 2012.
14:33And I might remind your viewers that we are the only member states among 10 of them now,
14:38candidate countries, that has had to negotiate to open each chapter separately before the French new methodology.
14:45So we have done the double work compared to other candidates.
14:49All right, Peter Markovic, Montenegro's ambassador to the European Union.
14:53Thank you so much for coming on this morning.
14:56And now, America is heading into a crucial political test today.
15:00And for Donald Trump, the stakes could hardly be higher.
15:03The economy, immigration, and Trump's own popularity have been dominating the midterm election campaign.
15:10So is this a referendum on the president?
15:12And what happens to the Republican Party if voters turn against him?
15:17Let's bring in Republican strategist and owner and president of consultancy firm Clink Campaigns, Matt Clink,
15:24who joins us from Los Angeles.
15:25Good morning, or rather good evening.
15:28Great to have you on.
15:30Thank you.
15:30Good morning.
15:31So with Donald Trump's approval ratings at 30%,
15:35is he a liability for Republican candidates in today's elections?
15:40Well, let's put it this way.
15:42The Republicans were always going to face headwinds heading into this election cycle.
15:47The party that holds power, his party tends to lose 22 seats in the House at a minimum.
15:53So that would give the Democrats a strong majority in the House.
15:58But Donald Trump's unpopularity that you just pointed to, that's a further drag.
16:03And the affordability issue, the war with Iraq, or Iran, excuse me,
16:09and the tariffs are the three main issues that have really caused Republicans across the country
16:15to really struggle this election cycle.
16:18Yeah, you mentioned the tariffs.
16:20Traditionally, the economy is one of the biggest factors in midterm elections.
16:24Why should Americans give Republicans another mandate if they remain unhappy about the cost of living?
16:31Well, I think that's the whole point of what the election is ultimately going to be fought on,
16:36is, you know, look, the memories of Biden and Harris are not that far in the rearview mirror
16:42when we did have 9 percent inflation under Joe Biden and everything costs more.
16:49And Donald Trump promised that he was going to bring those numbers down.
16:52And some are down, but frankly, a lot of them aren't down enough.
16:55And some are actually up like gasoline prices.
16:58And I think the voters are going to take that anger out on Republican candidates across the country tomorrow.
17:05If Democrats win back one or both chambers today,
17:09would this mark the death knell for the Republican legislative agenda?
17:13And what would happen to the Republican Party then?
17:15Well, the Republican Party itself is absolutely strong.
17:19I mean, don't forget, you know, Donald Trump is still the president for two more years.
17:24I do think that it would, if the Democrats take one or both houses,
17:29it will certainly put the squash on any Republican agenda for the last two years of the president's term.
17:39But that would, frankly, that happens every time that parties switch power.
17:45So, you know, again, Donald Trump will rule by executive order and veto.
17:50And if the Democrats win one or both, they're not going to win by massive majorities.
17:56So I would think gridlock will be the word of the day for 2027 and 2028.
18:03Yeah, Trump has said he'll be Mr. Veto in that case and then maybe strike deals.
18:08Now, Democrats are already threatening investigations into the Trump administration.
18:13Should Republicans be worried about subpoenas, hearings and potentially damaging revelations?
18:20Well, I think there always is the possibility.
18:23I mean, look, when when your party controls the executive and the legislative branches,
18:28let's just say that the oversight responsibility that Congress has isn't a top priority.
18:33It's moving the president's agenda forward.
18:36Now that the House and if the Senate goes Democrat, the Senate, they will exert that oversight.
18:42And that means holding hearings on the Iran war, on the tariffs, on some of the president's finances.
18:50So, yeah, there will be some some or some revelations and some things that will be quite shocking.
18:57Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the House impeached the president for a third time.
19:01It's doubtful that they will get the requisite two thirds vote in the Senate to formalize that impeachment.
19:08And don't forget, Donald Trump's already been impeached twice and it didn't hurt him.
19:12He got reelected for office.
19:14All right, Matt Klink, political consultant and Republican strategist.
19:18Thank you so much for your insights.
19:21Thank you.
19:21All the fun stuff happens tomorrow.
19:23That brings us to the end of today's episode.
19:25Thank you for watching.
19:26I'm Stefan Grobe.
19:27Take care and I see you tomorrow.
19:52Take care and I see you tomorrow.
19:59Take care and I see you tomorrow.
19:59Take care and I see you tomorrow.
19:59Take care and I see you tomorrow.
19:59Take care and I see you tomorrow.
19:59Take care and I see you tomorrow.
20:00Vielen Dank.