EU is drawing up membership action plans for most promising candidates
For the first time, Brussels is considering setting target dates for Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania to complete key stages of accession talks.
The European Union is creating detailed "roadmaps" for the four countries closest to joining the bloc, in an effort to expedite the lengthy membership process: Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova, and Albania. These targeted action plans, outlined by senior European Commission officials, aim to provide clear, step-by-step guidance for these aspiring members, along with rough timelines for when key negotiations will be completed.
The roadmaps will establish expectations for each candidate nation, as well as obligations for current EU members to endorse the process. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized her commitment to supporting the countries that have made the most progress during her September State of the Union address. However, the roadmaps will not be extended to nations like Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Turkey, or Serbia, which are still at earlier stages or have faced concerns regarding democratic and judicial issues.
The development of these roadmaps marks a shift towards a more proactive approach to enlargement, with EU leaders recognizing the need for a better path to membership amid growing geopolitical tensions.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
