BRUSSELS – Roadmaps for the most advanced candidate countries, a new model of gradual integration, and a renewed focus on the relationship between security and enlargement are the three new elements of the European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Package, adopted today and presented at a press conference in Brussels.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stressed in the press conference that this year marked the biggest progress on EU enlargement in the past 25 years.
“Only this year have we opened or closed 61 chapters, with more than 30 to go until the end of the year”, Kos said.
She said that there are three novelties in this year’s report.
“First, the Commission has put a set of indicative roadmaps for the four countries which have made the most progress over the past year. These roadmaps provide greater predictability and guide the accession process”, Kos said.
For Montenegro, the roadmap provides milestones leading up to EU membership. For Albania, Ukraine and Moldova, they present the outlook for the year ahead.
“Second, the Commission is putting forward a new model for gradual integration. In the first quarter of next year, we will launch a gradual integration dialogue with enlargement countries to take stock of existing measures and explore further opportunities for integration”, Kos said.
The third novelty is a new focus on the interconnectedness of Europe’s security developments in enlargement countries.
“Integrating EU candidates into the EU’s security structures will make Europe more secure as a whole”, Marta Kos said.
Commenting on the accession prospects of Montenegro, the Commissioner said that accession negotiations could realistically be closed by the end of the year, while the work on the accession treaty with Montenegro is already underway.
The accession treaty with Montenegro could be signed at the earliest in June 2027, she said.
Regarding the upcoming new government of Serbia, Kos said that the country now has an opportunity to turn the page, strengthen democratic institutions and human rights and take the necessary steps to advance on Serbia’s EU path.
High Representative of the Union Kaja Kallas emphasised the importance of enlargement for Europe’s security.
“There is strength in numbers. A larger Europe means strengthening Europe’s security, growing our geopolitical weight and our ability to project influence”, she said.
According to her, today’s reports bring a clear message: reforms bring results.
“Membership is moving closer for the countries which deliver”, Kallas said.
