After the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, which concluded accession agreements in 2005, no new accession is envisioned in the years to follow, in any case not before the end of this decade, Rehn said addressing a French National Assembly delegation for the EU.
The next country on the list will be probably Croatia, I say probably because this country will have to previously meet all the required conditions, Rehn said in the speech the European Commission issued in Brussels.
He added that after Croatia it was impossible to anticipate further developments in terms of enlargement.
Rehn said that although accession negotiations with Turkey had been opened, the process would be long and without guarantees regarding its outcome. He added the same went for the countries of the western Balkans, which he said were at an even lower degree of relations with the Union.
Candidate countries are not at our doorstep. There is a long path ahead of them before they can enter our common house. But we would be working against our own principles and are own strategic interest if we gave them the impression that their path leads nowhere, said Rehn.
He underlined that the European Commission seriously considered the concern over the pace of enlargement, and suggested creating a new consensus on enlargement based on two principles.
The first is the defence of Europe's strategic interest, namely the enlargement and consolidation of a space of peace, freedom and prosperity, which he said meant honouring commitments that have been undertaken.
The second principle is to provide for the Union to simultaneously maintain and develop its capability of deciding and acting, both within and outside its borders.