Enlargement Strategy 2013-14

In this document, the European Commission sets out its strategy for 2014 on the enlargement of the EU to include new members. It also reviews the progress made in membership negotiations with the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey.

ACT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2013-2014. [COM(2013) 700 final of 16.10.2013 - not published in the Official Journal].

SUMMARY

The European Commission's communication Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges is accompanied by a set of more detailed annual reports on countries currently negotiating EU membership and on potential candidates.

The communication looks at the progress of membership negotiations with four candidate countries: the Montenegro, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey. It also reviews the situation with regard to 3 potential candidates in the Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo (this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence).

A short report was also prepared on Iceland whose government has decided to put negotiations on hold.

The communication confirms the continuing relevance of the Copenhagen criteria (democracy, the rule of law, respect for fundamental rights, and a functioning market economy) as a basis for admission to EU membership.

It points out that the EU accession process is more rigorous and comprehensive than in the past. It stresses the vital need to address the fundamentals first.

• The countries need to tackle issues such as judicial reform and the fight against organised crime and corruption early in accession negotiations. This ensures that reforms are deeply rooted and irreversible by the time accession takes place.
• Strong democratic institutions are also important and civil society needs to play a greater role; further progress is needed on electoral, parliamentary and public administration reforms.
• More effort is needed to ensure that the principles of freedom of expression and the rights of persons belonging to minorities are respected in practice, not just enshrined in law.
• As some of these countries are not fully-fledged market economies, the communication sets out proposals to strengthen their economic governance: the Commission's proposals include the introduction of national economic reform strategies and action plans for public financial management.
• Market reforms are vital to ensure sustainable growth and improve competitiveness. These should help the countries tackle the economic fundamentals first and meet the economic criteria for membership.

With a budget of €11.7 billion (current prices) for the 2014-2020 period, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) aims to support countries in preparing for membership. The allocation of these funds transforms the political priorities of the enlargement strategy into concrete actions (such as aligning candidate countries' laws with EU laws and standards).

Lastly, the paper recommends that Albania be granted the status of a candidate country on the understanding that it continues to take action in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

For further information, see the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement website.

10.04.2014