“The European Union has learned from mistakes made in its relations with the United Kingdom and Georgia, and is now ready to be more confident and invest in member states to counter ‘false narratives,’” said European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kosma.
In an interview with several media outlets, she stated that the European Commission’s attitude toward enlargement has changed.
“When the UK decided to hold a referendum, the EU’s position was: ‘This is their internal matter, we will not interfere.’ We did not even say: ‘Please, could you stay?’ In the case of Georgia, we already knew that Russia was interfering, but we did not help,” Kosma noted.
According to the Commissioner, the EU’s new approach is more effective in countering Russian disinformation.
“They are really causing significant harm, but I am glad to say that we are now doing better,” she said.
EU Membership as an Urgent Step
“The issue of Europe’s political geography resurfaced after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Today, twenty years after the EU’s eastern enlargement, joining the European Union is once again viewed as an urgent step to stabilize the EU’s neighborhood and counter the growing influence of Russia and China. Enlargement only makes sense if it strengthens the EU. This will not be possible without setting new priorities, reassessing funding, and reforming decision-making mechanisms.
The EU is a unique union of successful democracies and a large common market – and that is precisely why other states, and above all their citizens, want to join Europe,” says political scientist Daniela Schwarzer, former Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Bertelsmann Foundation’s Board of Management. She is also a member of the EU Reform Working Group.
The EU Is Ready for Enlargement: Who Is the Main Candidate?
On October 6, 2023, at an informal EU summit held in Granada, EU leaders discussed the future of the Union. The discussion focused not only on what candidate countries — including Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia — must do, but also on how the European Union itself should prepare for enlargement.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that the EU will need to abandon the principle of unanimity in foreign and taxation policy and instead move to decision-making by majority vote. He also proposes determining the allocation of seats in the European Parliament, rather than simply “inventing new ministries and expanding the European Commission.”
The EU Is Not a “Closed Club”
The next enlargement is planned for 2030. Two years ago, then–Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas stated: “We must accelerate. Many years have passed since the EU last admitted a new country.” In her view, the integration of smaller countries such as Montenegro could proceed almost without obstacles, while larger ones will require much more work. Therefore, her proposal was to start by admitting smaller states to demonstrate that the EU is “not a closed club.”
However, EU membership is not based on size but on merit, European Council President Charles Michel stressed at the time. In his view, “It is right to set a date by which everyone must fulfill their obligations.” Moreover, he emphasized that these obligations must be met not only by candidate countries, but also by the European Union itself.
The EU and the Schengen Area Are Not the Same
It is important not to confuse the European Union with the Schengen Area, as they are two separate entities. Today, the Schengen Area includes 29 countries. For example, Ireland, Romania, and Bulgaria are EU member states, but they are not part of the Schengen Area. At the same time, Norway and Iceland are part of the Schengen Area, but they are not members of the European Union.
Criteria for Joining the European Union
To become a member of the European Union, a state must meet specific conditions. These criteria were established at the Copenhagen Summit in 1993 and have since remained the key guiding principles for candidate countries.
The main criteria are:
Political Stability
A country must have a stable democratic system with functioning institutions. Core requirements include respect for human rights, freedom of speech, and fair elections. The government must also uphold the rule of law.
A Functioning Market Economy
The country must have a stable market economy capable of withstanding competition within the EU’s single market.
Institutional Capacity to Fulfill Obligations
Each country must have the mechanisms to ensure the implementation of all commitments. This includes the ability to comply with all EU norms and standards, as well as the capacity to participate in the Union’s political and legal systems.
Adaptation of Legislation
Candidate countries must align their legal systems with EU legislation. This requires substantial reforms across various sectors.
EU Candidate Countries
Currently, nine countries hold candidate status: Albania (application in 2009), Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016), Georgia (2022), Moldova (2022), North Macedonia (2004), Serbia (2009), Turkey (1987), Ukraine (2022), and Montenegro (2008).
Among the candidates are states that are actively negotiating membership, as well as those just beginning the integration process. The main candidate countries for EU membership are:
Ukraine
Ukraine applied for EU membership in 2022 and was granted candidate status. Its priorities include combating corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and modernizing its economy.
Moldova
Moldova also became a candidate in 2022. One of its key challenges is improving the judicial system and the overall human rights situation.
Albania
Albania applied in 2009 and was granted candidate status in 2014. One of its main priorities is fighting corruption and organized crime.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia became an official candidate in 2005, but the accession process was delayed due to political disputes, including the name dispute with Greece. In 2019, the sides reached an agreement, allowing North Macedonia to resume its EU integration path.
Serbia
Serbia applied in 2008 and became a candidate in 2010. Accession negotiations began in 2012. The process is complicated by political and territorial issues, particularly Kosovo’s independence.
Montenegro
Montenegro obtained candidate status in 2010 and began negotiations in 2012. The country is actively implementing reforms aimed at improving the economy, combating corruption, and strengthening the rule of law.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Applied in 2016 and became a candidate in 2022. Its key challenges include internal political divisions and governance reforms.
Georgia
Georgia applied in 2022 and received candidate status in 2023. The main goals of its integration process are strengthening democratic institutions and implementing economic reforms.
About a year ago (late November), the Georgian government announced that it would not pursue the opening of membership negotiations with the EU before the end of 2028.
Turkey
Turkey applied in April 1987 and gained candidate status in December 1999. Accession negotiations began in 2005 but have since been stalled due to political and legal disagreements, as well as strained relations with several EU member states.
Kosovo (Potential Candidate)
Kosovo is not recognized as an independent state by all EU members but aims to join the Union. In 2018, the EU granted visa-free travel for Kosovo citizens, and in 2022, Kosovo submitted its formal application for EU membership.
Why Moldova Matters to the European Union
According to Siegfried Mureșan, head of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, the European Union’s security is closely linked to Moldova’s stability, especially in the context of Russia’s attempts to destabilize the region.
“Europe will only be secure if Moldova is secure. Without an independent, European Moldova, the EU’s borders cannot be fully protected,” the Romanian MEP stated.
“Moldova’s political direction affects the security of the Black Sea region, energy corridors, and the regional balance of power with Russia. However, for EU leaders, Moldova is important not only because of its strategic location,” notes Teona Lavrelashvili, a researcher at the Martens Centre in Brussels.
“If Moldova succeeds in deepening reforms and resisting destabilization efforts, it will demonstrate that the EU’s enlargement strategy works — that reforms and integration can succeed even in the face of Russian pressure,” Lavrelashvili added.
At the same time, negotiations on Moldova’s EU accession are currently at an impasse. Brussels emphasizes that this is not the fault of Moldova’s government. Since Chisinau submitted its application for membership together with Kyiv, the EU decided not to separate their integration paths. However, Hungary is blocking Ukraine’s progress in the negotiations, and as a result, Moldova — like Ukraine — has become a hostage to the Hungarian veto.
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Starting January 1, 2026, EU candidate countries Ukraine and Moldova will benefit from the EU’s unified roaming system, which will reduce telephone costs for their citizens when traveling in the Eurozone. This is the first time roaming benefits have been extended to EU candidate states.
The Balkans
The path toward European integration for the Western Balkan countries has developed unevenly over the past two decades, shaped both by the EU’s internal dynamics and by the political and economic specificities of the Balkan states.
A significant milestone came in 2018, when the European Union adopted a renewed strategy for relations with the Western Balkans, which gave new momentum to the region’s European aspirations. At that time, the EU indicated that Serbia and Montenegro could be ready for EU membership by around 2025, while North Macedonia and Albania might follow by approximately 2030.
Six priority areas were identified. Today, the countries of the region face similar challenges, including ensuring the rule of law, protecting human rights, combating corruption and organized crime, advancing socio-economic development, managing increasing mass migration, and maintaining good neighborly relations. The latter is especially crucial, as the Western Balkans have historically been considered an unstable region, where numerous violent ethnic conflicts have taken place.
Georgia
During the Europe Day celebration held in Tbilisi on May 9, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, stated that Georgia may “lose its chance for EU membership for a long time,” adding that he does not see any progress or willingness from the government to ensure Georgia becomes a member state as soon as possible.
“In 2023, the European Union opened the door to Georgia and granted it EU candidate status. We celebrated this historic moment together. Today, unfortunately, as a result of the actions of the Georgian government, the European integration process has come to a halt,” Ambassador Herczyński said.
“If Georgia returns to the path of democratic development, we are ready to work together towards Georgia’s accession to the European Union,” he added.
Meanwhile, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili commented in the TV program “Free Space”:
“There are forces in the EU, still small for now, but the situation there is also changing — forces that share the same values we do. We have partners; for example, we can name Hungary, Slovakia, and now also the Czech Republic, where parties with these values have won. Europe is not something fully formed today — diversity, rule of law, and human rights were realized there, and that is why we wanted to become part of this space, so that all this would not be dismantled. We hope that this process will change. We are ready for dialogue, partnership, and discussion on any issue, but their actions, their attitude, are also insulting,” he said.
Public Support for Enlargement
EU enlargement is gaining momentum: a recent survey shows that more than half of Europeans — specifically, 56% — support expanding the European Union.
According to Eurobarometer, Sweden (79%), Denmark (75%), and Lithuania (74%) are the strongest supporters of expanding the European family. Austria (45%), the Czech Republic (43%), and France (43%) show less enthusiasm on this issue.
Young people support enlargement more than any other group: 67% of Europeans aged 15–24 are in favor. Among those aged 25–39, support stands at 63%. Overall, the survey shows that two-thirds of Europeans support the accession of new states.
Meanwhile, 37% of respondents believe enlargement will increase the EU’s global influence; another 37% say it will strengthen the European market. Additionally, 30% of Europeans believe enlargement will reinforce solidarity among the 27 member states.
