(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 7 - How much progress are the candidate
countries making towards joining the EU? In its annual
Enlargement Package, the European Commission has presented a
comprehensive assessment of the progress and current status of
all candidate and potential candidate countries.
On October 30, the European Commission adopted the 2024
enlargement reports that provide a detailed assessment of the
progress made by the countries aspiring to join the European
Union.
The assessments are accompanied by recommendations and guidance
on the reforms each candidate needs to prioritise in order to
progress in the accession negotiations.
At the end of October, the President of the European Commission,
Ursula von der Leyen, travelled to the countries of the Western
Balkans on a four-day trip and visited six countries seeking to
join the EU - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North
Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Von der Leyen pledged that EU enlargement would be high on the
agenda in Brussels. "Rest assured that enlargement will remain a
top priority in my next mandate," von der Leyen said in a joint
press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in
Tirana.
Discussions around EU enlargement in the region of around 16,6
million people stretch back 20 years, with Brussels blowing hot
and cold during that period.
While it is not currently possible to assess whether the
incoming European Council President António Costa will
prioritise enlargement to the Western Balkans, his last visit as
Portugal's Prime Minister was to the Western Balkans.
Costa also said that the EU should "start preparing now" for the
enlargement process, so that it has "the conditions to receive
the ones it is inviting".
The enlargement portfolio in the next European Commission
(2024-2029) is to be held by the Slovenian candidate, Marta Kos.
In her answers to questions by MEPs before this week's hearing,
she said that tackling blockages in EU enlargement would be one
of her main tasks during her five-year term if appointed.
Kos also pointed out that bilateral issues causing delays should
be addressed swiftly. Among her short-term goals will be the
progress on the candidates' EU-path, which more specifically
means the EU closing accession talks with Montenegro, opening
the remaining sets of chapters with Albania, and opening the
first set of chapters with North Macedonia, Ukraine and Moldova.
While paying particular attention to the rule of law chapters,
Kos stressed that enlargement must remain a process based on the
achievements of the candidate countries in order to make it
credible and sustainable.
Status quo on EU enlargement:
GEORGIA | Membership status: candidate country
Georgia received a predictably negative report card. According
to the report, there have been worrying developments since March
2024 that do not reflect the government's declared commitment to
the EU path. Among other things, it criticised shortcomings in
the recent parliamentary elections, such as inconsistencies in
the procedures as well as intimidation and pressure on voters.
The former Soviet republic on Russia's southern border elected a
new parliament on October 26. The election organisers declared
Georgia's ruling pro-Russian party Georgian Dream the winner.
The pro-European opposition and the president consider the
result to be falsified.
"Should there be a political will from Georgia's leadership, we
are offering a clear path for re-engagement on the way to the
European Union - the repeal of the law on foreign influence," EU
foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
The enlargement report also warned: "Unless Georgia reverts the
current course of action which jeopardises its EU path (…) the
Commission will not be in a position to consider recommending
opening negotiations with Georgia."
Georgia became a candidate country in December 2023.
However, Brussels has put the rapprochement on hold due to
several repressive laws that the ruling party has pushed through
this year.
MOLDOVA | Membership status: candidate country
In the case of Moldova, the European Commission stressed that
the adoption of EU legislation is progressing "smoothly" and
that, subject to the country meeting all the conditions, the
European Commission is looking forward to opening negotiations
on chapters, starting with the core aspects, "as soon as
possible in 2025".
On October 20, Moldova voted by a wafer-thin majority to
enshrine a pro-EU course into the constitution, after a
referendum beset with accusations that Russia tried to
manipulate the vote. With all the votes counted, 50.46 percent
of voters approved the constitutional change.
Also, Moldova's pro-European president, Maia Sandu, has won a
second term as president. Moldovan citizens are sending a
message: they want the country's future to be in the EU.
Moldova became a candidate country in June 2022. Accession
negotiations opened in June 2024.
UKRAINE | Membership status: candidate country
According to the European Commission, the negotiations for
Ukraine's accession to the EU should become more concrete in the
coming year - similar as in the case of Moldova. Despite
Russia's war of aggression, the country has continued its strong
commitment to reforms in many areas, according to the report.
Provided that Ukraine fulfills all conditions, it is therefore
hoped that negotiations on basic principles can begin "as soon
as possible in 2025" as well. These include the topics of
fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security as well as
financial control.
Ukraine became a candidate country in June 2022. Accession
negotiations opened in June 2024.
(continues) (ANSA).
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