EU Enlargement policy 2019

 

SUMMARY OF:

Communication COM(2019) 260 final — EU Enlargement Policy 2019

Communication COM(2019) 261 final — Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application for membership of the European Union

Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE ARTICLE AND THE COMMUNICATION?

• The communication on enlargement policy assesses the progress made in implementing the 2015 enlargement strategy, draws conclusions and makes recommendations for specific countries and on certain issues.
• The communication on the opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for membership of the European Union with its 14 key priorities provides a comprehensive roadmap of reforms for Bosnia and Herzegovina on the EU path.
• Article 49 TEU provides the legal basis for admitting a European country into the EU.

KEY POINTS

• Each year, the European Commission adopts its ‘enlargement package’ — a set of documents explaining its policy on EU enlargement.
• Taking into account the Commission’s Western Balkans Strategy, the 2019 package includes a communication which assesses the implementation of the 2015 multiannual strategy, sets out the way forward and takes stock of the situation in the candidate countries and potential candidates.The assessment focuses on:
  • functioning democratic institutions;
  • the rule of law and security;
  • fundamental rights;
  • public administration reform;
  • migration;
  • economy;
  • regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations;
  • pre-accession financial assistance in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
• In addition to this communication, the package contains the reports in which the Commission services present their detailed assessment of the state of play in each candidate country and potential candidate, what has been achieved over the last year, and provides guidance on reform priorities:
  • Albania Report 2019
  • Kosovo* Report 2019
  • Montenegro Report 2019
  • North Macedonia 2019
  • Serbia Report 2019
  • Turkey Report 2019.
• The Commission also issued its Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for membership of the European Union, together with an analytical report that reviews, for the first time, the situation in the country against all standards applicable to EU Member States.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

• European Neighbourhood policy and enlargement negotiations (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions 2019 — Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (COM(2019) 260 final, 29.5.2019)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council — Commission Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application for membership of the European Union (COM(2019) 261 final, 29.5.2019)

Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union — Title VI — Final provisions — Article 49 (ex Article 49 TEU) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 43)

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Staff Working Document — Albania 2019 Report — Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — 2019 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (SWD(2019) 215 final, 29.5.2019)

Commission Staff Working Document — Kosovo* 2019 Report — Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — 2019 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (SWD(2019) 216 final, 29.5.2019)

Commission Staff Working Document — Montenegro 2019 Report — Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — 2019 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (SWD(2019) 217 final, 29.5.2019)

Commission Staff Working Document — North Macedonia 2019 Report — Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — 2019 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (SWD(2019) 218 final, 29.5.2019)

Commission Staff Working Document — Serbia 2019 Report — Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — 2019 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (SWD(2019) 219 final, 29.5.2019)

Commission Staff Working Document — Turkey 2019 Report — Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — 2019 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (SWD(2019) 220 final, 29.5.2019)

Commission Staff Working Document — Analytical Report — Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council — Commission Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s application for membership of the European Union (SWD(2019) 222 final, 29.5.2019)

last update 20.12.2019