The European Commission is not ready for EU expansion within the next seven years.

The European Commission did not support the call from the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, to expand the European Union by 2030.

EC spokeswoman Dana Spinant avoided answering journalists’ questions about whether the EC supports preparations for EU enlargement several times during the briefing. According to Spinant, the EC considers the bloc’s expansion a political priority. The entry of new members into the EU should be based on their merits. However, she refused to comment on the words of the head of the European Council.

“We are not focused on the date; we are focused on working very closely with the candidate countries to prepare for their accession to the EU. We are focused on supporting the reforms we are carrying out, the investments that help them transform their economies and get closer to the regulatory requirements, which are important to fulfill before joining the EU,” said Spinant.