In this situation the Treaty of Nice does not allow us to embark on further enlargement, therefore we think that the Treaty of Lisbon should take effect. We also believe that there is a prospect for Croatia (to join the EU) in a foreseeable time, if issues which should be solved are solved, Merkel said at a news conference in Brussels after an EU summit.
Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) recently adopted a platform for the next elections for the European Parliament, in which the party called for a pause in the process of European Union enlargement after the admission of Croatia.
"In the process of enlargement, the CDU advocates a period of recovery during which the strengthening of the EU's identity and institutions will take precedence over new enlargements. Croatia can be the only exception to this rule," the CDU said.
The party's platform, entitled "A Strong Europe - A Safe Future", says that recent enlargement rounds, during which the European Union had grown from 15 to 27 members, have expanded the area of security in Europe and that Germany has profited "both politically and economically" from the enlargement.
The CDU said that the enlargement had required "great effort" and that, except for Croatia, the enlargement process should be stopped indefinitely.
At the same time, the party advocated the prospect of EU membership for the Western Balkan countries, and a form of "privileged partnership", rather than full membership, for Turkey.
Merkel said today that other southeastern European countries could enjoy the prospect of EU membership as soon as they met the necessary requirements.
She said that the prospect of EU membership could facilitate the further peaceful development of those countries.
At the same news conference, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that, unfortunately, some difficulties surrounding the border between Croatia and Slovenia had not been removed yet and called on Europeans to prevent new obstacles on Croatia's road to the EU.