The European Commission adopted on Wednesday 30 October an annual enlargement package, which provides a detailed assessment of the situation and progress made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey, regarding each of these countries’ progress towards accession to the European Union (EU). The assessments are accompanied by recommendations and guidance on reform priorities.

Enlargement is a historic opportunity for the acceding countries as well as for the current Member States and the EU as a whole. There are significant socio-economic and political advantages as well as security advantages in a bigger and stronger Union.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “The tense geopolitical context makes it more imperative than ever to complete the reunification of our continent under the same values ​​of democracy and the rule of law. In recent years we have already made great progress in terms of the accession of new Member States. And enlargement will continue to be a top priority of the new Commission.”

The enlargement process continues to be meritocratic and depends on the objective progress made by each of our partners. This goal requires determination to implement irreversible reforms in all areas of EU law, with a particular focus on the fundamental principles of the enlargement process. Democracy, the rule of law and fundamental values ​​will continue to be the cornerstones of EU enlargement policy. EU accession remains a strategic choice.

Korina Georgiou