The package will assess the state of play of the accession process and EU-related reforms in the seven countries wishing to join the EU.
When: Tuesday, 19 October, from 15.00 to 16.30.
Where: European Parliament in Strasbourg, DE MADARIAGA S1 and remotely.
Check the agenda. You can follow the discussion live
In his presentation to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Várhelyi is expected to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to the enlargement process, as long as candidate countries implement credible reforms and adhere to the rule of law.
Earlier this month, at the EU-Western Balkans Summit, the leaders of the EU and its member states stressed that they support the region’s European perspective and its political, economic and social transformation. European Parliament President David Sassoli urged leaders to overcome the current stalemate and move forward with the accession process
Background
Each year the Commission adopts its “Enlargement package”, a set of documents explaining the Commission’s policy on EU enlargement, including a Communication on enlargement that sets out the way forward and takes stock of the situation in the candidate countries and potential candidates. The package also includes the reports in which the Commission presents its detailed annual assessment of the state of play in each enlargement country.
In their latest reports assessing the situation in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia (25 March), Montenegro (19 May) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (24 June) for the years 2019-2020, MEPs warned that, in order to advance towards joining the EU, countries must implement lasting reforms across fundamental areas such as the rule of law and must have democratic institutions that function effectively. In the report on Turkey (19 May), MEPs criticised Turkey’s backsliding on rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as its confrontational foreign policy.
Further information