EU Enlargement/European Parliament: Albania and Montenegro have set targets for completing negotiations in 2027

2026-03-11 17:43:00, Aktualitet CNA

EU Enlargement/European Parliament: Albania and Montenegro have set targets for

In a report adopted on Wednesday, MEPs say enlargement is a strategic response to evolving geopolitical realities and a vital investment in the EU's security and stability.

The European Parliament argues that the cost of non-enlargement would outweigh that of new members joining the EU, risking the creation of geopolitical grey areas vulnerable to antagonistic foreign influence.

According to the European Parliament report, Montenegro and Albania have already set ambitious targets for completing their accession negotiations by the end of 2026 and 2027 respectively.

The report stresses that the EU should encourage these countries when their ambition is matched by tangible reforms, with MEPs calling on the Council to recognise this moment and remove any obstacles that exist on the EU side. MEPs also want the swift opening of negotiating groups with Ukraine and Moldova.

Membership should remain merit-based and reversible.

Reaffirming that membership must remain merit-based and reversible, and that no country should be treated as part of a package, MEPs stress that there can be no shortcuts to the EU's fundamental values ??and principles.

The rule of law, democratic reforms, media freedom, minority rights, judicial independence and the fight against corruption must remain at the forefront of the enlargement process, along with continued support for civil society.

Compliance with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is a key indicator of a candidate country's geostrategic orientation. MEPs note that the most worrying democratic backsliding is occurring in enlargement countries with the lowest CFSP compliance and in those where the accession process has effectively stalled.

MEPs are calling for stronger monitoring of reforms in candidate countries within the framework of the "foundation group" and for reinforced support for pro-EU civil society actors who are committed to the necessary reforms and European values.

The report also says there should be sufficient pre-accession funds under the EU's new long-term budget and deeper cooperation on infrastructure, security, sustainability and combating foreign information manipulation.

The report was approved with 385 votes in favor, 147 against and 98 abstentions.

Rapporteur Petras Auštrevi?ius (Renew, Lithuania) said:

“With each new member, Europe's political and economic power has grown, bringing prosperity and security to its citizens. In light of today's challenges, we must improve the EU integration model to better reflect the Union's interests and the expectations of candidate countries. EU enlargement must go hand in hand with internal reforms to safeguard the functioning of the EU and improve decision-making processes, including greater use of qualified majority voting. The EU must complete these reforms by the time the main candidates meet the membership criteria and are prepared for EU accession.”/ CNA