For the first time, the European Commission will assess the reforms carried out by candidate countries to eventually determine whether to open accession negotiations.

Ukraine, Moldova, and potential candidate Georgia will have their reforms examined: these are part of the EU enlargement policy which requires states to implement democratic and economic reforms if they want to become members of the union. 

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Várhelyi will further be quizzed by members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the future of the EU’s enlargement policy as well as the state of play in the countries covered.

This is one of an annual set of documents that are adopted by the Commission and determines the way forward, as well as takes stock of reforms carried out in candidate and potential candidate countries.

Alongside Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye, for the first time, the package will also cover two new EU candidate countries, Ukraine and Moldova, as well as Georgia as a potential candidate.

Várhelyi will also present the Commission’s new six billion euro Growth Plan for the Western Balkans which aims to help states in the region pursue their goals to integrate with the EU, pending the delivery of EU-related reforms.

The European Council is expected to make a decision on whether to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and Ukraine at the EU summit in December.

North Macedonia and Albania formally started their accession negotiations with the EU in 2022, Montenegro and Serbia in 2012 and 2014 respectively, while talks with Türkiye are frozen.

The EU granted candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Moldova in 2022 while setting additional requirements for Georgia to be able to receive the same status. The same year, Kosovo formally submitted an application for European Union membership.

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