The European Commission today adopted its annual enlargement package, which provides a detailed assessment of the state of play and progress made on the European path by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey. The assessment is accompanied by recommendations and guidance on reform priorities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has demonstrated concrete results, including in migration management, full alignment with the EU’s Common and Foreign Security Policy, as well as the adoption of laws on the integrity of the judiciary, the fight against money laundering and conflicts of interest. In March 2024, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commission is preparing a negotiating framework with a view to its adoption by the Council once all the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of October 2022 have been taken.
Enlargement is a historic opportunity for both acceding countries and current members and the EU as a whole. The socio-economic, political and security benefits of a larger and stronger Union are numerous.
“More than ever, geopolitical tensions require us to complete the reunification of our continent, based on the same values of democracy and the rule of law. We have already made great strides in recent years towards the integration of new Member States, and enlargement remains a top priority for the new Commission”, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said that the past five years have been marked by unprecedented challenges, which underlines the importance of a new momentum in enlargement.
“Our partners have taken this seriously too. Now more than ever, EU membership is a strategic choice. Alignment with EU values, from the rule of law to the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, is the most important indicator of strategic orientation in the new geopolitical context. Through our results-based process, we are building a stronger Union together,” he said.
Oliver Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, explained that enlargement represents a geostrategic investment in peace, stability, security and socio-economic growth of our European continent.
“Our annual enlargement package provides a factual and realistic assessment of our partners’ progress, and clear guidance, enabling partners to identify where accelerated reforms can lead to progress towards EU membership. With targeted economic and investment plans, the Facility for Ukraine, as well as growth plans for the Western Balkans and Moldova, we have provided additional tools and instruments to help countries accelerate socio-economic convergence and reform efforts on their European path,” he stressed.
The enlargement process remains performance-based and depends on the objective progress of each partner country. At the same time, it requires determination to implement irreversible reforms in all areas of EU law, with a particular emphasis on the fundamental areas of the enlargement process. Democracy, the rule of law and fundamental values will continue to be the backbone of the EU’s enlargement policy. EU membership remains a strategic choice.
