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The European Political Community (EPC) is a new 'platform for political coordination' (European Council) initially proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. The Presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have both also supported such a proposal. The inaugural meeting of the EPC was held in Prague on 6 October. The 'EU+ summit' was hosted by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU and attended by 43 national delegations from the EU- ...

Sebbene l'integrazione europea dei Balcani occidentali e della Turchia sia ancora in una fase di stallo, la guerra in Ucraina e il difficile contesto geopolitico hanno dato nuovo slancio al processo di allargamento, nel tentativo di garantirne continuità, coerenza, credibilità e incisività. Nel giugno 2022 i leader dell'UE hanno riconosciuto la "prospettiva europea" di Ucraina, Moldova e Georgia. La prospettiva di un futuro europeo per i paesi dei Balcani occidentali era già stata riconosciuta in ...

The Thessaloniki Summit (2003) opened the door to a European future for the Western Balkans. However, since then progress towards EU membership has been slow. The countries of the region have struggled to implement economic and political reforms, and the rule of law remains particularly problematic. The 2018 Enlargement Strategy for the Western Balkans gave new impetus to the enlargement policy, offering the six countries of the region a 'credible strategy' through enhanced EU engagement and indicating ...

Il 1o luglio 2013 la Croazia è diventata il 28° Stato membro dell'Unione europea. L'adesione della Croazia, successiva a quella della Romania e della Bulgaria del 1o gennaio 2007, costituisce il sesto allargamento dell'Unione. Sono in corso i negoziati con il Montenegro, la Serbia e la Turchia. Anche l'Albania e l'ex Repubblica jugoslava di Macedonia sono paesi candidati, mentre la Bosnia-Erzegovina e il Kosovo rappresentano potenziali candidati.

Gender equality – recognised by the United Nations as a human right, and enshrined in the EU Treaties – is among the requirements with which Western Balkan candidates and potential candidates for EU accession (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia) have to comply. In recent years, these six countries have taken steps to advance women's rights. They have adopted or amended their relevant legislation (for instance, criminal and labour ...

Widespread corruption is a major shared challenge for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia. It is a phenomenon that poses a threat to the EU's core values, such as democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, and undermines good governance and economic development. For these reasons, anti-corruption reform is among the key requirements for EU accession. The prospect of EU integration has proven to be a strong incentive ...

In April 2017, the European Parliament is due to debate a resolution on the European Commission's 2016 enlargement report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The report acknowledges that during a politically turbulent 2016, the country failed to progress in key EU-related reform areas and even backtracked in some. Following the December 2016 elections, political uncertainty remains and the EU is urging prompt formation of a new government, a process currently blocked.

By the end of 2015, Serbia expects to move closer to EU membership by opening its first negotiating chapters of the acquis. The social dimension, an integral part of the enlargement process, is mainly covered in Chapter 19 (Social Policy and Employment) of the acquis. Serbia has to address major social policy issues to achieve compliance with the EU's common basic social standards – a condition for successful participation in the single market.

A European Commission feasibility study from October 2012 finds that Kosovo’s current status under international law is not a legal obstacle to the conclusion and implementation of an EU-Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) under Article 218 TFEU. Negotiations on a framework agreement on Kosovo's participation in EU programmes are ongoing.

The enlargement from a Community of six Member States (MS) to a Union of 27 is widely regarded as the EU’s greatest policy triumph. However even amongst those MS who have succeeded in joining, there have been significant differences in their experiences of the accession process. For current and potential candidate countries, completing the process is likely to prove even more challenging.