Brussels – On the eighth floor of the glass-fronted headquarters of the European Economic and Social Committee, Oliver Röpke welcomes us with a crystalline smile and a firm, genuine handshake—hallmarks of the Austrian EESC president throughout his two and a half years at the helm of the EU body. “It is not easy to assess my own presidency; I prefer to let others judge.”
That judgement will soon come from several EU leaders—including António Costa and Roberta Metsola—at the EESC plenary session on 17 September, which will also mark the handover from Röpke to his successor. In the meantime, in these very last days of his mandate, the long conversation he granted to The New Union Post offers an opportunity for a personal reckoning with a complex term, marked by the return of war to the European continent and the rise of populism and extremism.
“To be honest, two and a half years later, it does not look any better,” Röpke admits, his voice edged with concern. Yet the shadow does not linger for long. The sombre tone quickly yields to a measured confidence: the conviction that solid foundations have been laid in defence of Europe, of fundamental rights, and of a liberal, social democracy. “And I think we delivered through milestone initiatives set out in our manifesto.”
It is precisely at this point that the outgoing EESC president allows himself a moment of pride. “Especially on EU enlargement, we have been the main proponents of gradual integration, and we went ahead with our Enlargement Candidate Members’ Initiative,” which he describes as “the biggest and most important success of this presidency.” The proof? “Other institutions are now looking closely at our initiative and are considering going a similar way.”
From there the discussion turns not only to the swift progress of this institutional innovation— conceived exactly two years ago and delivered five months later—but also to its potential to reshape the way to approach EU enlargement. At stake is the future of a Union that aspires, yet still struggles, to open its doors to new members left waiting in the EU accession waiting room. A room far less luminous than the EESC’s eighth floor.
A bright future for the EESC’s “milestone initiative”
Almost apologising for his enthusiasm in underlining the main achievement of his presidency, Röpke explains that the success he refers to comes from the evaluation of the candidate countries themselves. “They see this opportunity as a major chance to influence EU policy in one of the institutions for the very first time.”
With more than 20 opinions reflecting the perspectives of Enlargement Candidate Members, together with events and joint consultative committees involving governments and civil society, “this is not merely a symbolic step.” Yet President Röpke readily acknowledges that the status of these members remains too vague–they are neither observers nor full members. “It would be good to accelerate the process to make them truly an integral part of our committee.”
The work begun under his presidency is now firmly established and will guide the committee into the next term and beyond. “It is no longer a pilot project; it has become a regular part of our work,” he explains, noting that all the necessary measures to consolidate this “milestone initiative” are in place, as well as the financing budget for the coming years “with the help of the Commission.”
Another significant development announced by the outgoing EESC President to The New Union Post is the forthcoming expansion of the Enlargement Candidate Members’ Initiative: “Kosovo will be involved in the next cycle,” beginning in early 2026. Röpke insists that progress in the EU enlargement process, combined with the initiative’s potential to stabilise a country facing ongoing difficulties—partly stemming from controversial EU policies—make Kosovo’s civil society involvement crucial. “This is not only a formal exercise,” he says. The appointment of Enlargement Candidate Members from Kosovo is now imminent.
The initiative’s transformative potential is evident in the fact that discussions about its future already extend beyond the consultative role of the Committee. As Röpke reveals, the EESC has received requests from other EU institutions “that want to replicate the initiative or do something similar.” The Council is also increasingly inviting ministers from candidate countries to its formal and informal meetings. Most telling, however, is the interest shown by the Parliament and the Committee of the Regions–proof, Röpke adds, that “our initiative came at exactly the right time.”
The next EU budget with (potential) new members
When it comes to EU institutions, the conversation with EESC President Röpke inevitably turns to a subject that will dominate debate in Brussels and across the 27 capitals in the coming years: the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The Commission’s proposal for the next EU budget has already raised serious concerns–including the risks of over-centralisation and the fact that part of the “impressive” €2 trillion will be absorbed by inflation and debt repayment.
One of EESC president’s key criticisms, however, lies in the Commission’s approach to financing EU enlargement. “We have consistently underlined that enlargement needs adequate and long-term funding,” he says, warning that the absence of any reference to the role of cohesion policy in this context “is a problem when it comes to the future” of a European Union with more than 27 members.
Looking ahead, Röpke hopes that the EESC’s enlargement initiative will involve fewer countries—as some will by then have joined the Union as full members. “Maybe in two or three years,” he suggests, pointing to frontrunners Montenegro and Albania, as well as Moldova, while noting that Ukraine “has opened its way.”
In a final note of determination before concluding the interview, President Röpke makes it clear that Europe as a whole “needs this process for the security” of both current members and neighbouring regions. Respecting the fundamentals, rewarding progress, and supporting candidates that are struggling must be the compass for a journey still to be completed in close cooperation with national institutions and governments, civil society, and social partners. “We have been—and will stay—at the forefront to support them.”
From the eighth floor of the EESC’s glass-fronted headquarters, the determination is tangible. In clear contrast to the doubts, hesitations and layers of bureaucracy that still weigh heavily on other Brussels institutions.
