go to the original language article
BRUSSELS – European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated that only if the unification of Europe is completed can peace, freedom, and prosperity be ensured on the continent, and that only together with all who share European values can it be guaranteed that Europe has an independent voice in the world. While presenting the Enlargement Package for 2025 to members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), she said this can only be achieved if work is done “hand in hand” with EU neighbors to create a strong, stable, secure, and united Europe based on common values and principles.
“Today, we Europeans must do much more to take control of our continent, defend our democratic values, and protect our own security,” she said. According to her, given the accelerated pace of the accession process for some candidate countries, successful enlargement is a realistic possibility in the coming years. “Every enlargement must strengthen our Union. To achieve this, we need greater progress in two main pillars: First, future member states must prepare for the responsibilities of membership. And second, we must prepare our Union for a larger EU,” Kos said.
She also stated that Montenegro is the most advanced on the path of enlargement among all candidate countries and has made significant progress towards EU accession, primarily achieving tangible results in necessary reforms, as well as that Albania has made progress since the first Intergovernmental Conference in October 2024 and has opened four clusters, with the remaining cluster expected to be opened before the end of the year. Regarding Serbia, she said that EU membership is its strategic goal, but that the actual pace of implementing reforms has significantly slowed, and that it must implement credible reforms in all areas, which is most important especially in the area of fundamental principles. “We also need progressive and stronger alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). A more proactive and objective communication about the EU accession process is also needed, and anti-EU rhetoric should be avoided. Serbia is expected to overcome the stalemate in the area of justice and fundamental rights and urgently reverse the backsliding regarding freedom of expression, as well as ensure progress regarding the electoral framework,” she said. When it comes to Moldova, she said that the country has made rapid progress on its path to accession and has significantly deepened cooperation with the EU despite ongoing hybrid threats and attempts to destabilize the country and its path to the EU, that Ukraine has shown its commitment to its path to the EU, advancing in key reforms – from strengthening anti-corruption measures to improving public administration. “Bosnia and Herzegovina has faced political tensions due to the end of the ruling coalition and a stalemate in reforms.
However, in September 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted its Reform Agenda to the Commission for adoption. The country has the opportunity to advance on its path to the EU by adopting the justice reform law and appointing a chief negotiator. North Macedonia must amend its Constitution in accordance with the Council’s conclusions from 2022 to advance on its path to the EU,” Kos said. According to her, Turkey is a candidate country and a key partner that shares the same strategic interest in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as in the Black Sea region where it works with the EU on the agenda of interregional connectivity, but that the continuous deterioration of democratic standards, the rule of law, judicial independence, and respect for fundamental rights remains a cause for concern. She also added that the situation in Georgia has sharply deteriorated, with serious democratic backsliding, due to rapid erosion of the rule of law and restrictions on fundamental rights. For all these reasons, Kos emphasized, the coming year will be a moment of truth for all candidate countries, but especially for those that have presented ambitious plans to conclude negotiations. “They need to intensify efforts to implement lasting reforms that will enable the permanent transformation of their economies and societies to fully align with democratic standards and values.
This must be underpinned by respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights and a clear adherence to the EU’s geopolitical orientation,” she said. At the same time, she emphasizes, the EU is already taking steps to prepare for new members. “This is the second pillar of our work to strengthen our Union. The Commission is working on policy reviews and reforms before enlargement, which assess the impact of enlargement on key policy areas. Efforts in communication, both in member states and in countries in the enlargement process, are being intensified to discuss with citizens the benefits and challenges of enlargement. But communication alone is not enough. We must ensure that the positive dynamics regarding the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights are maintained even after accession,” Kos said. According to her, the EU has accelerated gradual integration through the Instrument for Ukraine and Growth Plans for the Western Balkans and Moldova, which recognize the geopolitical reality that broader thinking is needed when working with countries that wish to become members and that they should be allowed to participate in various policies and programs before EU membership. As she stated, the EU has already been successful in several important areas, such as integration into European energy markets, and cited the energy resilience packages with Ukraine and Moldova as a good example. She also mentioned that work is progressing on aligning with EU technical standards and certifications, which will expand the single market and strengthen pan-European value chains. “Some candidates have also just joined the Single European Payment Area, and we are making progress in roaming. These are steps of integration that are being implemented in exchange for reforms, particularly regarding respect for the rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy,” she said. The Commission believes, Kos said, that future accession agreements will need to contain stronger safeguards, while preserving the fundamental principle of equality, to avoid any backsliding in relation to commitments made during the accession negotiations. “Future enlargements can only be successful if we ensure the highest quality of reforms and establish safeguards that assure our citizens that the integrity of our Union and democratic values are secured,” she said. She emphasized that every previous enlargement has strengthened the EU. “This success depends on readiness. So let us not shy away from the necessary discussions on how we can ensure that a larger Union is also a stronger Union that we need,” she concluded. (November 4)