Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Enlargement is a historic prospect both for the acceding nations and for the current Member States and the EU as a whole.
The European Commission assumed its annual Enlargement Package, providing a thorough assessment of the state of play and the improvement made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Türkiye, on their respective approaches towards EU accession. The checks are accompanied by proposals and direction on the reform priorities.
What is the significance of Enlargement process ?
In her remaks, Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, stated:
“The tense geopolitical context makes it more compelling than ever that we complete the reunification of our continent, under the same values of democracy and the rule of law. We have already taken great strides over the last years towards integrating new Member States. And enlargement will remain a top priority of the new Commission”.
According to the EU Commission, the enlargement process persists to be merit-based and depends on the factual progress made by each of the partners. This requires perseverance to implement irreversible reforms in all dimensions of EU law, with special focus on the fundamentals of the enlargement process. Democracy, the rule of law and fundamental values will persist to be the cornerstones of the EU’s enlargement approach.
How does the EU evaluate candidate progress on reforms?
The EU Commission’s assessment highlights varying progress among candidate countries. Montenegro met interim benchmarks for the rule of law, allowing provisional chapter closures, though further improvements are necessary. Serbia is set to open cluster 3, focusing on rule of law reforms and civil society conditions. Albania welcomed negotiations on the fundamentals cluster but must enhance its reform pace in rule of law and anti-corruption. North Macedonia needs to advance judicial reforms and strengthen trust in its justice system. Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown progress in migration management and judiciary integrity, leading to the opening of accession negotiations.
Moreover, Kosovo submitted an EU membership application, achieving visa liberalization, but must bolster rule of law efforts. Ukraine’s accession negotiations began, with smooth screening progress, aiming for cluster discussions in 2025. Moldova’s negotiations also advanced amid challenges from Russia. Georgia’s candidate status is jeopardized by electoral issues and governmental actions, necessitating reforms. Türkiye remains a candidate but faces stalled negotiations due to serious concerns over rights and rule of law, although some re-engagement is occurring.
