The conclusions state that: “Prospective members should step up their reform efforts, especially in the area of the rule of law, in line with the meritocratic nature of the accession process and with the help of the EU.”
“The European Council decides to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and with the Republic of Moldova”, the European leaders state in the conclusions of the Enlargement Summit. They also call on the Council “to approve the respective negotiating frameworks once the relevant steps set out in the respective Commission recommendations of 8 November 2023 have been taken”.
For Georgia, the European Council decided to grant candidate country status, provided that the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 8 November 2023 have been taken.
The European Council will start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as the necessary degree of compliance with the accession criteria is achieved. The Commission is asked to report to the Council on progress by March 2024 at the latest, with a view to a decision.
For North Macedonia, it is stated that “the EU is ready to complete the opening phase of accession negotiations with North Macedonia once it implements its commitment to complete the constitutional changes as stated in the Council conclusions of 18 July 2022, according to its internal procedures. The European Council calls on North Macedonia to speed up the completion of these changes.”
There is no mention of Albania in the conclusions.
The conclusions state that: “Prospective members should step up their reform efforts, especially in the area of the rule of law, in line with the meritocratic nature of the accession process and with the help of the EU.” It is also noted that “with regard to the future of the prospect of a further enlarged Union, both the future Member States and the EU must be ready at the time of accession. The work on both sides should proceed in parallel.”
Reaffirming its full and unquestionable commitment to the prospect of the Western Balkans joining the EU, the European Council calls for the acceleration of their accession process. It is noted that the Commission’s new development plan for the Western Balkans aims to accelerate socio-economic convergence between the countries of the region and the EU, based on strict conditions. All countries in the region “are invited to step up the pace of EU-related reforms and promote regional economic integration through the Common Regional Market, based on EU rules and standards.”
The European Council stresses that it remains committed to promoting “gradual integration” between the EU and the region during the enlargement process “in a reversible and meritorious manner”.
“As the EU enlarges, successful European integration requires that the Union’s policies are fit for the future and sustainably financed, based on the values on which it is based,” the Summit conclusions state.
Finally, it is noted that the European Council will consider the internal reforms at its upcoming meetings with a view to adopting by the summer of 2024 conclusions on a road map for future work.
Source :Skai
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