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In the newly adopted Enlargement Package, the European Commission presented an annual comprehensive assessment of the progress made by the ten “enlargement partners” during last twelve months. This year’s package reaffirms that the momentum for enlargement stands high on the EU’s priority agenda; the assessment also confirms that the accession of ten new EU member states is “increasingly within reach”, notes Commission President.
Background
The European Union’s enlargement is fair and merit-based process, which is based on the objective progress of each enlargement country. The EU supports the strengthening of institutions, democratic governance and public administration reforms in the applicant countries.
By fostering gradual integration, the EU brings benefits even before the “real accession”; thus, numerous EU initiatives, such as the €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the €1.9 billion Moldova Growth Plan and the €50 billion Ukraine Facility allow countries advance in their reforms, as well as establish stronger connection with the EU. The main “instrument” in the perspective enlargement is the so-called gradual integration process using such measures as, e.g. candidate-states’ participation in SEPA and in “Roam Like at Home”.
As the Commission confirms: “each enlargement has made the Union stronger”, e.g. when ten countries joined the EU in 2004, which marked the Union’s largest ever expansion: as a result, the newcomers presently (after two decades) almost doubled their living standards, besides, the unemployment fall by nearly half, life expectancy rise from 75 to 79 years, poverty and social exclusion drop sharply, and 6 million new jobs have been created.
The existing EU member states have seen facilitated progress too: the trade has multiplied more than fivefold ever since, while 20 million jobs have also been created. Thus, for the EU-27 Single Market gained 74 million new consumers and at the time the EU-wide economy has expanded by 27% despite global crises.
More on the EU’s enlargement, in: https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/2025-communication-eu-enlargement-policy_en
Successful future EU member states
Among the new candidate -and successful future ten EU states- are Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Türkiye (which has been already a long-standing applicant) and Georgia/ Gruzia.
Continuing their respective paths in joining the EU, these states are activating the pace of their reforms, in particular in the areas of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, which directly are impacting the speed of accession. These advancements benefit both aspiring member states and current EU members in fostering prosperity, democracy, security and stability while unlocking new opportunities for citizens and businesses, such as strategic investments and opening of the Single Market.
The President of the European Commission said that the EU was “more committed than ever to turning EU enlargement into a reality”, with a simple reason that the larger Union meant a stronger and more influential Europe on the global stage. However, the enlargement, she notes, is a “merit-based process”: the EU’s adhesion package provides specific recommendations to all new partners. But the Commission’s general message to all of them notes that “the EU accession is a unique offer, promising peace, prosperity and solidarity; “with the right reforms and a strong political will, the partner states can seize this opportunity”.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2584
Enlargement road map
The present assessments, accompanied by recommendations and guidance on the reform priorities, are providing a roadmap for enlargement partners toward EU membership.
The Commission remains fully committed to supporting future member states in the joining process: i.e. gradual integration of the aspiring states into the Single Market strengthens ties with the Union already before their accession.
Significant progress has been achieved over the past year: with enlargement as a clear EU’s present policy goal, the Commission is committed to ensuring both the readiness of aspiring members as well as the EU’s preparedness to welcome them; to this end, the Commission will soon present a Communication on in-depth policy reviews and needed reforms.
To ensure that new member states continue to safeguard and maintain their track-record on the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights, future Accession Treaties should contain stronger safeguards against backsliding on commitments made during the accession negotiations.
Hence, the effective communication, as well as countering foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation is a strategic imperative.
The Commission also stands ready to support the aspiring member states’ effort to further anchor public trust in the process and help enlargement move forward with the legitimacy it needs.
More on the fact-sheet on accession in:
https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/factsheet-state-play-eu-accession-negotiations_en