EU integration “a huge responsibility”: Interview with EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos spoke to journalists from member agencies of the European Newsroom (enr) about the key milestones and core challenges ahead for countries currently aspiring to join the European Union – at a time of growing geopolitical tensions.

The Commissioner and her team gathered at the European Commission’s headquarters in Brussels, along with seven journalists attending the in-person interview on behalf of the entire enr network.

The agencies present in Brussels included AFP (France), MIA (North Macedonia), STA (Slovenia), Tanjug (Serbia) and UKRINFORM (Ukraine) – accompanied by the enr’s Tim Kohnen and Ian Smith who asked questions on behalf of other agencies not physically present during the interview.

Prior to the interview, journalists from the enr agencies worked together and prepared a joint list of questions to be asked during the interview. The result was a balanced list that addressed the needs of all agencies involved in the project.

The interview particularly focused on EU candidate countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine – as news agencies from these countries are represented in the enr.

The editorial processes were open for all member agencies. Other agencies also submitted questions which their colleagues attending the interview asked on their behalf. Following the interview, the materials, such as an audio file, a transcript, and photos, were shared with all enr agencies, allowing them to publish news pieces on their respective wires.

This is a core example of collegiality, team spirit and the sharing of information and responsibility between news agencies from all across Europe – an essential value and objective of the European Newsroom.

The enr also produced three Key Stories based on the interview:

Story 1: EU Enlargement Commissioner warns of external forces derailing EU integration

Story 2: Kos: new wave of EU enlargement by 2030 “realistic”

Story 3: EU enlargement chief backs Serbian protesters, calls for urgent return to “European track”

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More impressions from the interview, which took place at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels. Photos: Tim Kohnen/European Newsroom