EU says Ukraine must accelerate reforms on rule of law and other ‘fundamentals’ if it wants membership – Europe live | European Union
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Ukraine making progress on EU path, but corruption remains worry and ‘red line’ – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
With all the praise for Montenegro, Albania and Moldova, a lot of focus will inevitably be on Ukraine, as there is a growing political momentum to progress the negotiations, with Zelenskyy repeatedly urging EU leaders to find a way around Hungary’s blocking of the talks (12:49).
It’s clear the political intent is there with the commission’s release today saying that it “expects Ukraine to meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters and works to ensure that the Council is in a position to take forward the opening of all clusters before the end of the year.”
But it also noted that the commission is “commited” to support the ambitious 2028 target for closing accession talks adopted by the Ukrainian authorities, but “considers that, to meet it an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law.”
The general report stressed that “amid the challenges caused by Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine has demonstrated its strong commitment to its EU path, moving forward on key reforms, while further and steady progress is needed in the fight against corruption.”
“Steps already taken (from reinforcing anti-corruption measures to improving public administration) are laying the foundations for recovery and opening space for greater private sector involvement.
Sustaining this momentum and preventing any risk of backsliding, in particular on anti-corruption, will be essential. Significant progress was also made on gradual integration into the single market, already bringing Ukraine closer to the EU.”
A detailed Ukraine report, running into over 110-pages, repeatedly referenced corruption issues too, saying “there have also been some elements of notable concern, in particular in ensuring a robust and independent anti-corruption framework” and “limited progress” made in this area over the last year.
The analysis did not hold back in its assessment of the now-reversed corruption law reform over the summer, saying the proposal would have “dismantled important safeguards” for corruption agencies, and “severely weakened Ukraine’s anti-corruption framework.”
“The independence of NABU and SAPO was swiftly restored following domestic protests and strong concerns voiced by international partners,” it noted.
It further warned that “legislative initiatives presented as protecting businesses or national security were registered or adopted that risk undermining the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, including by limiting transparency of public registers and criminal liability for corruption offences.”
“Overall, these developments cast doubts on Ukraine’s commitment to its anticorruption agenda.
Ukraine should advance its anti-corruption framework and prevent any backsliding on its notable reform achievements. Procedural delays and obstructions in highlevel corruption proceedings should be addressed.”
But responding to questions from EU lawmakers, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos tried to strike a balance as she said that corruption remains “a red line” for the bloc, but also spoke about her “admiration” for the general progress made by Kyiv.
Addressing Kyiv’s frustration with the formal process being blocked by Hungary, she said that on her recent visit to Ukraine she “told Ukrainians: you don’t need Orbán to do the necessary reforms, and we can help them.”
As always the case with EU enlargement, both the technical assessment and the political intent will matter going forward as the process continues.
One to watch.
Key events
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ‘makes case for enlargement clear cut,’ but EU ‘won’t cut corners’ in process, foreign policy chief says
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EU press conference on enlargement imminent
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Ukraine making progress on EU path, but corruption remains worry and ‘red line’ – snap analysis
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‘Ukraine confidently moving towards EU membership,’ Zelenskyy says
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EU enlargement ‘realistic possibility’ given progress made, commission says
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EU’s enlargement review published, with praise for Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, and criticism for Serbia, Georgia
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Georgia ‘candidate country in name only,’ EU’s Kos warns amid ‘continued backsliding’ on fundamental rights
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Montenegro leads in accession plans, but ‘significant’ progress in Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, EU says
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Morning opening: The marking process
Kallas also gets asked about Serbia and whether it is at risk of becoming “a candidate in the name only” given the situation in the country.
She acknowledges that the report is “critical,” but says the EU remained “in a constant contact with the government, with the president, and they promise they will deliver.”
She insists she “doesn’t see” Serbia going down the same negative path as Georgia.
Pointedly asked about the question of progressing Moldova and Ukraine’s candidacies, Kallas acknowledges it “remains a concern” for the 26 countries – that’s everyone but Hungary – “who want to really move forward with the process.”
She said the commission was “consulting with the president of the Council to find ways to proceed.”
Kos repeats her line that “the candidates can work on the reforms” even without the formal progress in the accession process.
In her opening comments, EU enlargement commissioner Kos strikes a positive tone about Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine, telling the press conference the four “have matched their ambitions with concrete actions.”
She largely repeats earlier comments, as she says Montenegro is “the most prepared country,” while praising Albania for “unprecedented progress” in five out of six areas.
She says the commission will want to “put [the European] Council in the position to be able, by November, to open all the [negotiating] clusters,” and that it’s “trying to find the solution how this could happen.”
As argued earlier (14:10), there’s a clear intent to make progress, but with some acknowledgment that it may not be easy.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ‘makes case for enlargement clear cut,’ but EU ‘won’t cut corners’ in process, foreign policy chief says
EU foreign policy chief Kallas says that “Russia’s full scale invasion in Ukraine and the geopolitical shifts make the case for enlargement very clear cut,” but adds that the EU “won’t cut corners and don’t offer any shortcuts,” with the accession process “a fair, tough and merit-based process.”
She says “new countries joining the European Union by 2030 is a realistic goal.”
She sums up the EU’s assessment as positive for Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine, mixed for Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey, and negative for Georgia.
She also repeats strong criticism of Georgia, saying it “has no viable path to the European Union at this stage, unless conditions change dramatically.”
Jakub Krupa
The press conference is now under way.
EU press conference on enlargement imminent
Jakub Krupa
We should hear from the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and the EU’s enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, any moment now.
We can certainly expect more questions on Ukraine.
I will bring you all the key quotes here.
Ukraine making progress on EU path, but corruption remains worry and ‘red line’ – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
With all the praise for Montenegro, Albania and Moldova, a lot of focus will inevitably be on Ukraine, as there is a growing political momentum to progress the negotiations, with Zelenskyy repeatedly urging EU leaders to find a way around Hungary’s blocking of the talks (12:49).
It’s clear the political intent is there with the commission’s release today saying that it “expects Ukraine to meet the conditions to open the remaining three clusters and works to ensure that the Council is in a position to take forward the opening of all clusters before the end of the year.”
But it also noted that the commission is “commited” to support the ambitious 2028 target for closing accession talks adopted by the Ukrainian authorities, but “considers that, to meet it an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law.”
The general report stressed that “amid the challenges caused by Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine has demonstrated its strong commitment to its EU path, moving forward on key reforms, while further and steady progress is needed in the fight against corruption.”
“Steps already taken (from reinforcing anti-corruption measures to improving public administration) are laying the foundations for recovery and opening space for greater private sector involvement.
Sustaining this momentum and preventing any risk of backsliding, in particular on anti-corruption, will be essential. Significant progress was also made on gradual integration into the single market, already bringing Ukraine closer to the EU.”
A detailed Ukraine report, running into over 110-pages, repeatedly referenced corruption issues too, saying “there have also been some elements of notable concern, in particular in ensuring a robust and independent anti-corruption framework” and “limited progress” made in this area over the last year.
The analysis did not hold back in its assessment of the now-reversed corruption law reform over the summer, saying the proposal would have “dismantled important safeguards” for corruption agencies, and “severely weakened Ukraine’s anti-corruption framework.”
“The independence of NABU and SAPO was swiftly restored following domestic protests and strong concerns voiced by international partners,” it noted.
It further warned that “legislative initiatives presented as protecting businesses or national security were registered or adopted that risk undermining the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, including by limiting transparency of public registers and criminal liability for corruption offences.”
“Overall, these developments cast doubts on Ukraine’s commitment to its anticorruption agenda.
Ukraine should advance its anti-corruption framework and prevent any backsliding on its notable reform achievements. Procedural delays and obstructions in highlevel corruption proceedings should be addressed.”
But responding to questions from EU lawmakers, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos tried to strike a balance as she said that corruption remains “a red line” for the bloc, but also spoke about her “admiration” for the general progress made by Kyiv.
Addressing Kyiv’s frustration with the formal process being blocked by Hungary, she said that on her recent visit to Ukraine she “told Ukrainians: you don’t need Orbán to do the necessary reforms, and we can help them.”
As always the case with EU enlargement, both the technical assessment and the political intent will matter going forward as the process continues.
One to watch.
‘Ukraine confidently moving towards EU membership,’ Zelenskyy says
Responding to the EU’s findings, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “Ukraine is confidently moving towards EU membership” and ready to open more cluster negotiations with the union.
“This is the best assessment to date—proof that even as we defend against Russia’s full-scale aggression, Ukraine continues to reform and transform according to European standards,” he said on X.
In an apparent dig at Hungary, which continues to block further progress in accession talks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine expected “the EU’s decisive action to overcome all artificial obstacles for a strong and united Europe.”
EU enlargement ‘realistic possibility’ given progress made, commission says
The full report noted that “this is the first Commission mandate since 2010-2014 where, given the accelerating pace of the process for some candidate countries, enlargement is a realistic possibility,” noting that expanding the union in the next budget – 2028-2034 timeframe – is “a political and geostrategic imperative.”
But some particular concerns across the board were raised about drugs trafficking, which it said “remains one of the most widespread areas of activity of organised criminal groups across enlargement countries.”
It also called for “the capacity to fight economic crime, international tax fraud and money-laundering … to be improved.”
EU’s enlargement review published, with praise for Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, and criticism for Serbia, Georgia
Oh, the EU’s assessment of the candidate countries has now been published here and, unsurprisingly, it is in line with Kos’s comments to the European parliament.
The EU pointedly singled out Montenegro for “maintaining steady progress on reforms,” saying that the country was “on track” to meets its ambitious target to close accession negotiations by 2026.
It also praised Albania, saying its “goal of concluding negotiations by 2027 depends on maintaining reform momentum and fostering inclusive political dialogue,” but “subject to maintaining the pace of reforms, Albania is on track to meet this ambitious objective.|
On Ukraine, the commission said praised its progress, but said “an acceleration of the pace of reforms is required, notably with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law” to have a chance to “provisionally close accession negotiations by the end of 2028”.
Similarly, Moldova’s 2028 ambition is “ambitious but achievable, provided Moldova accelerates the current pace of reforms,” the EU said.
But the tone was markedly different on Serbia noting “disappointment of citizens over inter alia corruption and the perceived lack of accountability and transparency coupled with instances of excessive use of force against protesters and pressure on civil society,” and “an increasingly difficult environment” for reforms.
“Reforms have significantly slowed down,” it said, noting that “more needs to be done” and Serbia needs to “overcome the standstill in the area of judiciary and fundamental rights overall and urgently reverse the backsliding on freedom of expression and the erosion of academic freedom.”
The harshest language, as in Kos’s statement to lawmakers, was saved for Georgia, with the commission standing by its statement that it’s “accession process was de facto halted” since 2024, and the situation “has sharply deteriorated, with serious democratic backsliding marked by a rapid erosion of the rule of law and severe restrictions on fundamental rights.”
“… in light of Georgia’s continued backsliding, the Commission considers Georgia a candidate country in name only. The Georgian authorities must demonstrate resolute commitment to reverse course and return to the EU accession path,” it said.
The full 60-page document is here.
Georgia ‘candidate country in name only,’ EU’s Kos warns amid ‘continued backsliding’ on fundamental rights
In stark contrast to praise for other countries, EU’s enlargement commissioner Kos strongly criticised the worsening situation in Georgia, saying that “in light of Georgia’s continued backsliding on the fundamentals since then, the Commission considers Georgia a candidate country in the name only.”
She said the accession talks “have remained at a standstill since 2018,” and the situation “has sharply deteriorated, with serious democratic backsliding as never before.”
“Georgian authorities need to urgently reverse their course to respond to their citizens’ demand for a European future,” she said.
