Enlarging the European Union is a strategic priority - but who is advancing, and who isn't doing the work? The European Commission and leaders of candidate countries might have different takes. They'll get to debate them at an exclusive Euronews event today.
The leaders of Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans will join Euronews for a special live event in Brussels to advance their candidacies to join the EU at a critical geopolitical moment.
They will be joined by the woman driving the process, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, on the day she delivers her first report card.
A draft of the conclusions of the report, seen by Euronews, says that talks with Albania "reached unprecedented momentum" this year with preparations for the opening of the last cluster before the end of this year now "well advanced".
In the case of Montenegro, if Podgorica maintains its current pace of reforms, it is "on track" to meet its "ambitious objective" of close accession negotiations by the end of 2026.
"Recent negative trends" on tackling corruption must be reversed and the pace of reforms accelerated if Ukraine is to meet its aim of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2028.
Moldova's objective of closing accession talks by the end of 2028 is "ambitious but achievable", although reforms will have to be accelerated.
Serbia needs to step up efforts to align more closely with the EU's common foreign and security policy and must "urgently reverse the backsliding" in a number of areas.
Finally, North Macedonia has "not taken decisive steps" this year to advance in the process.
Follow our live blog below for a play-by-play of Euronews' Enlargement summit:
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Moldova: Further efforts needed to increase parliament transparency, EU Commission report says
The Moldovan Parliament can "overall exercise its powers in an effective way" but the European Commission calls for further efforts to increase "transparency, accountability, integrity and overall effectiveness".
In particular, the Commission said in its enlargement report that Moldova's parliament should use "oversight tools" and make sure that the publication of activities, decisions and draft laws are timely and accompanied with documents.
On the last electoral turnout, the Commission assessed them as "well-managed despite unprecedented foreign interference, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," the document reads.
"Extensive disinformation, particularly on social media, and partisan coverage in most media hindered voters’ ability to make an informed decision, and decisions to ban two parties on the eve of elections limited legal certainty," the document says.
What happens with the EU budget if a new country joins?
When the European Commission proposed its ambitious proposal for a €2 trillion EU budget, the prospect of enlargement was palpable.
The new budget will run from 2028 until 2034, meaning one (or more) countries could easily join during that period. Since the budget is made up of national contributions, the accession of a new member state will inevitably alter the collection and distribution of EU funds, particularly cohesion funds, which benefit regions with lower purchasing power.
This is why Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has included a "specific revision clause" in her €2 trillion proposal that will be triggered when a candidate joins the bloc. The revision will be done according to the demographic and economic size of the newly admitted country.
"It worked in the past accessions, and it will work now," von der Leyen said in July.
Von der Leyen's draft, however, still needs to be negotiated by member states and the European Parliament, a no-holds-barred battle that is expected to last until December 2026.
Ursula von der Leyen’s new €2 trillion EU budget: Six key takeaways
From support to Ukraine to the merger of agriculture and cohesion funds, here are the six takeaways from von der Leyen’s €2 trillion EU budget.
A 20-year wait: North Macedonia’s EU milestone comes without celebration
Exactly two decades after becoming an EU candidate, North Macedonia is still waiting for its first negotiation chapter to open.
Despite formally launching talks in July 2022, the process remains stuck amid political tensions and slow reforms.
The country’s accession path has been fraught with obstacles.
First came the name dispute with Greece, resolved through the Prespa Agreement of 2018, when "Macedonia" became “North Macedonia”: unlocking NATO membership and a green light for EU talks.
But the issues are not fully resolved.
Bulgaria insists that North Macedonia recognises the countries’ “shared history” and the Bulgarian roots of the Macedonian language - a claim many in Skopje see as an attack on their national identity.
Sofia has also demanded that the North Macedonia constitution be amended to explicitly recognise the Bulgarian minority, a condition set in the so-called French proposal of 2022.
North Macedonia’s parliament has yet to pass these changes, with nationalist parties calling them “humiliating”, contrary to the spirit of the Prespa Agreement.
The standoff has had clear consequences for the region’s enlargement path. Bulgaria’s veto in 2020 blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and, since the two countries’ bids had been linked, also delayed Albania’s.
Brussels later hinted that it might “decouple” the two bids to avoid punishing Tirana for a bilateral dispute it was not involved in.
Albania’s accession process has since advanced, while North Macedonia remains stuck: negotiations formally opened but no chapters are under discussion.
Public enthusiasm has also faded.
While surveys show that North Macedonians still support enlargement, fewer now see EU membership as a realistic goal.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, left, with North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
The latest entries into the EU have been faster
Croatia is the latest country to have joined the European Union in 2013. Its membership was granted 10 years after its initial request, and nine years from the concession of the candidate status.
Romania and Bulgaria jointly entered the EU in 2007, after a 12-year-long negotiation. Both filed their candidacy in 1995 and received the candidate status in 1999.
This waiting time has already been exceeded in the case of North Macedonia (which applied in 2004), Montenegro (2008), Serbia and Albania (2009).
What would be the effect of enlargement on the European workforce?
The accession of new countries to the European Union risks worsening the shortage of critical workers in newer member states, aggravating an ongoing brain drain.
While further integration of the EU can create business and investment opportunities, it may also drive a significant relocation of workers seeking higher salaries and better employment prospects in wealthier member states once freedom of movement is established.
“Although the exodus of skilled migrants from the Western Balkans has been ongoing for decades, EU accession could intensify this phenomenon, as we observed during previous enlargements,” Lien Jansen, a PhD researcher at KU Leuven University, told Euronews.
Experts suggest that potential solutions include improving the transition from education to employment, strengthening key sectors, and offering better working conditions.
Is risk of ‘brain drain’ overlooked in the EU’s enlargement process?
The EU’s enlargement process risks deepening a “brain drain” in the Western Balkans as skilled workers from newer members may migrate looking for opportunities…
Commission expects Serbia to align on EU sanctions towards Russia
The European Commission is set to call on Serbia to align itself with the sanctions adopted by the EU against Russia, according to draft conclusions seen by Euronews.
Belgrade’s ambiguity in its foreign policy remains an obstacle on its path toward EU membership, the document states.
“Serbia should clearly manifest its geopolitical orientation towards the EU, including by starting to align with EU’s restrictive measures taken in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” the Commission says.
The Commission also notes that the reforms undertaken by the country have “significantly slowed down" in the context of an increasingly polarised society, as a protest movement has been sweeping the country for more than a year following the collapse of a train station canopy.
It reflects the “disappointment of citizens over inter alia corruption and the perceived lack of accountability and transparency coupled with instances of excessive use of force against protestors and pressure on civil society.”
More specifically on the reform front, the Commission expects progress through the process of appointing the new Council of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), and through the adoption of the law on the unified voter register, “to be completed and implemented in a credible and inclusive manner, involving civil society and all stakeholders, including the opposition.”
In the area of judiciary and fundamental rights, the Commission also expects the country to overcome the standstill and “urgently reverse the backsliding on freedom of expression”.
Finally, the Commission intends to pay particular attention to the normalization of relations with Kosovo — a tense relationship, as Belgrade does not recognize its independence.
Moldova needs to speed up to close negotiations by 2028
According to the draft conclusions seen by Euronews, the European Commission estimates that Moldova can conclude the accession negotiations by early 2028, provided it can accelerate the current pace of reforms.
The Commission assesses that Moldova has now met the conditions required to open cluster one (dedicated to fundamentals), as well as clusters six (external relations) and two (internal market).
The Commission expects Moldova to meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters by the end of this year, which would put the country on track with its roadmap.
The draft also notes with a positive assessment that the country adopted last spring roadmaps on the rule of law, public administration reform, and the functioning of democratic institutions.
Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022, just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine.
In an interview with Euronews, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that due to Moldova’s efforts to join the bloc, the country needs a “sustained engagement and clarity from the EU to keep enlargement as a strategic priority and to maintain the momentum for those who deliver.”
Socialist parties to gather in Kyiv in the first summit towards EU membership
Progressive parties from across Europe and Ukraine will gather in Kyiv on Friday, 7, and Saturday, 8 November for the first 'EUkraine Progressive Summit'.
The summit is organised by the Party of European Socialists, the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, and Ukraine's Social Democratic Platform, a non-governmental organisation that unites progressive people all over the country.
The summit will focus on Ukraine’s EU path, peace, and reconstruction.
"EU and Ukraine's progressives will reflect on how Ukraine’s reconstruction and path to the EU can drive social progress, transforming the country into a truly democratic, socially just, resilient European state," the announcement reads.
Can EU membership be a security guarantee for Ukraine after the war?
Enlargement has often been associated with economic prosperity, fair competition, the rule of law, democracy and human rights. But in the case of Ukraine, it has gained a new dimension: security guarantee.
"It is clear that Ukraine's full membership of the EU is not only the best security guarantee, it is also the most effective path for prosperity and for a better future for the Ukrainian people," António Costa, the president of the European Council, said in September.
But can EU membership actually be a security guarantee?
The bloc's treaties foresee that if a member state becomes the target of an "armed aggression", the other member states will be bound by "an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power". The assistance can be military, diplomatic, technical, medical or any other relevant type. (Austria, Ireland and Malta are neutral.)
The clause, laid out in Article 47.2, has often been described as a collective defence akin to NATO's Article 5. However, the languages are markedly different. The NATO clause is more strongly worded as it compels all necessary action, "including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area". Additionally, NATO benefits from the presence of the United States, a nuclear superpower with a high-tech, well-funded army.
EU Commission to say North Macedonia must deliver on constitutional pledge
In the draft conclusions seen by Euronews, the European Commission praised North Macedonia’s “full alignment” with EU foreign policy but warned that accession talks remain blocked until Skopje fulfils its 2022 pledge to include Bulgarians and other groups in its Constitution.
The report also stressed the need for further progress in the rule of law, judicial independence, and the fight against corruption.
Back in April, Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski voiced frustration to Euronews that his country had “changed its flag, its currency and even its name” for EU promises that keep shifting with each new condition.
"Of course, there have been faults by governments in terms of lack of delivery on some issues without a doubt. But what is also a fact is that we have been a victim of far too much bilateralisation of the EU process," he told Euronews journalist Shona Murray.
The country has been an EU candidate since 2005, but no chapters in negotiations have been opened so far.
EU Commission: Montenegro is on track to close negotiations by end 2026
The European Commission believes that Montenegro is “on track” to meet its ambitious objective of closing the EU accession negotiations by the end of 2026, according to draft conclusions of the new enlargement report seen by Euronews.
Montenegro’s goal is to become the 28th EU member state by 2028.
However, to achieve this, the Commission said the country will need to focus on improvements in several areas: rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom, the fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as accelerating reforms in the judiciary sector and alignment with the EU visa policy.
“The timely filling of high-level judicial and prosecutorial positions remains a challenge that needs to be addressed,” the Commission said.
“Continued broad political consensus on key reforms remains crucial,” the EU executive added.
If Montenegro keeps its pace of progress, the Commission will present a draft financial package and draft common positions for closing negotiations on the financial and budgetary provisions, the draft conclusions said.
A timeline of Ukraine's EU accession
28 February 2022: Just a few days after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine submits a formal letter of membership to join the EU via "a new special procedure". The decision receives widespread media attention, but member states are mixed on fast-tracked accession.
1 March 2022: President Zelenskyy virtually addresses the European Parliament and makes an impassioned case for accession. "Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans," Zelenskyy tells lawmakers, receiving a standing ovation. The speech brings the translator to tears.
8 April 2022: Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, travels to Kyiv and presents Zelenskyy with the questionnaire to kickstart the accession process.
17 June 2022: The European Commission recommends that Ukraine be granted candidate status and lays out seven conditions, such as steps to tackle corruption, to start formal talks.
23 June 2022: The 27 leaders of the EU endorse Ukraine's candidacy, a decision hailed as historic. Moldova, which applied shortly after Kyiv, is also granted candidate status. The two neighbours become informally coupled in the accession process.
22 June 2023: The European Commission tells member states that Ukraine has fully met two of the seven preconditions and made certain progress on the other five.
14 December 2023: The 27 leaders of the EU decide to open negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
18 June 2024: Ahead of taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council, Hungary announces it will freeze Ukraine's accession process. It marks the start of the Hungarian veto.
28 March 2022: A proposed minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine raises serious fears over Kyiv's ability to meet EU rules and standards. The concerns are later mitigated.
1 July 2025: The European Commission rebukes Hungary, saying there are "no objective reasons" to block Ukraine's accession. Budapest justifies its position using the results of a national consultation.
23 July 2025: Von der Leyen expresses "strong concerns" and demands explanations over a new law in Ukraine that weakens the independence of two anti-corruption agencies. The backlash forces Kyiv to undo the legal changes.
2 September 2025: Amid persistent speculation, ministers pour cold water on the idea of decoupling Ukraine and Moldova to allow the latter to advance in the accession process.
2 October 2025: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán derails a plan to tweak the voting rules of the accession process that would have allowed Ukraine to open the first cluster of negotiations.
Credit: European Union, 2025
Albania aims for accession in 2030 – and is ‘on the right track’
Albania is on track to end accession negotiations in 2027, according to draft conclusions of the new enlargement report seen by Euronews to be unveiled today.
The country expects to join the European Union in 2030. So far, it has opened five of the six negotiating clusters required for EU accession. Only the cluster covering agriculture and cohesion is left, which Albania aims to open before the end of the year.
The conclusions state that the immediate priority is to meet the short-term goals related to the rule of law and to strengthen efforts to investigate drug trafficking and dismantle criminal groups.
Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, told Euronews earlier this year that Albania, together with Montenegro, is “clearly more advanced than the other countries.”
His remarks were echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Tirana, Albania’s capital, this autumn. “I want to emphasise that there has been a stunning and outstanding acceleration in the last three to four years,” she said at a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Turkey's long, tortuous road to join the EU
Turkey holds the record for the longest wait to join the European Union: almost 40 years at the bloc's doorstep.
Today, the country's membership ambitions are de facto frozen. But this wasn't always the case. There was a time when Turkey was seriously considered a candidate to join and held the promise of becoming an influential member state
In this article from 2023, we trace back Turkey's tortuous road.
A brief history of Turkey’s long road to join the European Union
Turkey’s ambition to join the European Union has gone through multiple ups and downs since the application was first submitted in 1987.
European Parliament asks for internal reform to accommodate new members
The European Parliament believes that any new accession to the European Union should go hand-in-hand with key reforms, as the enlargement has “institutional consequences.”
In a recently approved resolution, the Parliament emphasizes the importance of reviewing the Council’s decision-making process and revising the qualified majority voting system to enhance the balance between larger and smaller countries.
Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos is expected to deliver the pre-enlargement reviews and reforms later this month to assess the impact enlargement could have on key policy areas.
Ukraine has set its sights on enlargement, but also on reparations
For more than a year, Ukraine has been pleading with EU countries to break the deadlock caused by the Hungarian veto and open the first cluster of negotiations, known as "Fundamentals".
But there is one issue in Kyiv that has greater urgency. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will take part in today's summit, has told EU leaders that his country would need a fresh injection of financial and military assistance next year, ideally at the "very beginning".
Member states agree with Zelenskyy's assessment but lack a concrete solution to plug the gap. The European Commission has proposed a bold plan to use the immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank to issue a €140 billion loan to Ukraine, which could help cover the needs for 2026, 2027 and even beyond. The project, however, is being held up by Belgium, the prime keeper of the assets.
Here's everything you need to know about the so-called reparations loan.
What is the reparations loan for Ukraine and why is the EU stuck?
An audacious plan to use Russia’s immobilised assets to issue a €140-billion loan to Ukraine is held up by EU leaders. Here’s why.
Joining the EU without enjoying the veto right: A way to break the deadlock?
As candidate countries have been waiting for several years to conclude the negotiations, one of the ways to break this deadlock has come in the form of granting newcomers EU membership without the veto right.
At the moment, there has been no such discussion at any level among EU countries on this proposal, three different EU sources told Euronews. But some experts think that this can change in the near future.
“It is undeniable that this would introduce, of course, a differentiation between new and existing member states. But it would be temporal in nature," Steven Blockmans, from the think tank Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), told Euronews.
According to him, this option would facilitate decision-making among member states, it would be time-limited and acceptable from a legal standpoint.
“It would not create a breach (in the EU law) because it would be applied to all future candidates joining the EU, so there would be no discrimination among them.”
Read more in the story below:
EU enlargement: How to end the wait?
EU hopefuls from the Western Balkans have faced a years-long delay on their membership path. Ahead of its flagship enlargement summit on 4 November, Euronews e…
The EU has a 'responsibility' towards candidate countries
Euronews sat down with Marta Kos last week for a group interview in which the enlargement commissioner said that the EU has learnt from its mistakes with the UK and Georgia and is now prepared to be "more assertive" including by investing in candidate countries to counter fake narratives.
Kos, who took office in December last year, said 2025 marked a departure for the way the European Commission approached enlargement, notably because "it was the first time that we invested resources, we have invested men and women power to help fend off foreign malign interference".
"This included for the first time the deployment of the EU’s rapid hybrid response team," she added.
The beneficiary was Moldova, whose bid to become an EU member state was launched just weeks after Russia rolled its tanks into Ukraine in its full-scale invasion in early 2022.
Read more below:
EU now ‘more assertive’ to help candidate countries fight interference
The EU has a “responsibility” to help candidate countries stay on their European path, the bloc’s enlargement chief said this week ahead of the release of the…
Get ready for an action-packed day
Today is D-Day for enlargement as leaders from six of the candidate countries will join Euronews in Brussels for an exclusive summit to discuss their accession progress, just as the European Commission will unveil its annual report card.
Here's the schedule for the summit (all times CET):
- 14:10: Keynote by European Council President António Costa;
- 14:16: The Europe Conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
- 14:38: The European Conversation with Moldova's Maia Sandu;
- 14:59: EU Enlargement Talks with North Macedonia's Hristijan Mickoski;
- 15:13: EU Enlargement Talks with Montenegro's Filip Ivanović;
- 16:00: The Europe Conversation with Marta Kos;
- 16:20: The Ring with MEPs David McAllister and Marc Botenga;
- 16:53: EU Enlargement Talks with Albania's Edi Rama
- 17:05: The Europe Conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
But before that, our team of crack reporters will also bring you coverage of Marta Kos appearing in front of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee where she will preview the enlargement report.