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Summaries of EU Legislation

    2023 European Union enlargement policy

     

    SUMMARY OF:

    2023 Commission communication on EU enlargement policy

    Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union Article 49

    WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE COMMUNICATION?

    • Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union provides the legal basis for admitting a European country into the European Union (EU).
    • The communication on enlargement policy assesses the main developments and the progress made by candidate countries and potential candidates, draws conclusions and makes recommendations.

    KEY POINTS

    • Each year, the European Commission adopts its enlargement package – a set of documents on its policy on EU enlargement.
    • It focuses on the progress in the implementation of fundamental reforms – the rule of law, fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform and the economic criteria.
    • It provides clear guidance on the reform priorities.
    • The package includes Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine for the first time.
    • On the basis of certain steps being taken and requirements being met, the Commission recommends:
      • granting Georgia candidate country status;
      • opening accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine, and opening accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved.
    • In addition to this communication, the package contains the reports in which the Commission presents its detailed assessment of the state of play in the western Balkans, Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine, and what has been achieved over the last year, and provides guidance on reform priorities:

    BACKGROUND

    For further information, see:

    MAIN DOCUMENTS

    Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions – 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy (COM(2023) 690 final, 8.11.2023).

    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 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 690 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 691 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Kosovo* 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 692 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: North Macedonia 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 693 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Montenegro 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 694 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Serbia 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 695 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Türkiye 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 696 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Georgia 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 697 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Republic of Moldova 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 698 final, 8.11.2023).

    Commission Staff Working Document: Ukraine 2023 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 2023 Communication on EU Enlargement policy (SWD(2023) 699 final, 8.11.2023).


    * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 (1999) and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

    last update 24.05.2024

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