About: EU enlargement
Visegrad countries back opening of accession talks with North Macedonia, Albania
Four eastern European Union members on Thursday (12 September) backed the accession of Western Balkan countries to the bloc, saying North Macedonia and Albania should start talks this year.
Kosovo president sets 6 October as date for snap parliamentary vote
Since Kosovo’s government collapsed last week, Western countries expect a new cabinet to relaunch talks between Belgrade and Pristina and make sure these countries lift obstacles for joining the EU in the longer term.
Georgia suggests taking an unconventional path to EU accession
Georgia staked its claim to becoming an EU member on Thursday (11 July), even if it meant an innovative approach and "knocking on every door", its president told an international conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi.
Finland kicks off EU presidency with bid to tackle ‘unfin[n]ished business’
"A sustainable Europe - a sustainable future". This is Finland's motto to kickstart its presidency in the European Council for the next six months. The Finnish programme seeks to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, expand the digital internal market and strengthen military cooperation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU must revamp enlargement as a concept, report says
Since the Thessaloniki summit in 2003, where the EU expressed support for all the Western Balkan countries, only Croatia has become a full member of the bloc. A recent report suggests Brussels should revamp the handling of the whole process, with a directorate that would only deal with EU hopefuls.
Borissov warns North Macedonia against stealing Bulgarian history
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov warned EU hopeful North Macedonia on Thursday (20 June) against what he said was “anti-Bulgarian rhetoric” and appropriation of Bulgaria's history as its own, saying it "must stop".
Enlargement debate: Western Balkans, torn between hope and outrage
With enlargement being a “hot potato” for EU institutions, EURACTIV addressed the issue in a debate on Tuesday (5 June). Diplomats and journalists talked freely about the perceived reluctance of some member states, but also about existing real internal obstacles.
Police, protesters clash in Albania, US condemns the violence
Police in the Albanian capital Tirana on Sunday (2 June) fired tear gas and water canon at demonstrators demanding the resignation of socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.
No new phase seen in EU-Turkey relations after EP elections
The latest European Commission progress reported has warned that Turkey is moving away from Europe. Little progress on the country's accession is expected under the new EU legislature in 2019-2024, but political analysts don't expect major negative changes either, as long as the refugee deal is in place.
Commission: Turkey has continued to move away from the EU
In its flagship annual report, the Commission warned Turkey that it has continued to move further away from the European Union, with serious backsliding in the areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Commission recommends opening accession talks with Albania, North Macedonia
The European Commission recommended on Wednesday (29 May) opening accession talks with two Western Balkan countries, Albania and North Macedonia, saying they had “embraced the opportunity and delivered on reforms”. But this will need to be approved by the member states....
Albania’s riotous politics rattle EU dreams
Molotov cocktails in the streets and a mass resignation in parliament -- Albania's volatile political scene is exploding just as its European future is on the table, threatening Tirana's dreams of joining the bloc.
Albanian protesters hurl petrol bombs, seek snap polls
Albanian opposition protesters hurled petrol bombs at the entrance of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office on Saturday (11 May), after three months of demonstrations calling for him to quit over alleged election fraud and corruption.
In North Macedonia, Pope urges Balkans to embrace diversity
Pope Francis urged the Balkans to embrace its patchwork of faiths and ethnicities during his visit to North Macedonia on Tuesday (7 May), where he delivered prayers and speeches that kept returning to the legacy of an illustrious Skopje native: Mother Teresa.
North Macedonia’s pro-Western candidate wins presidential vote
North Macedonia's pro-Western candidate, Stevo Pendarovski, won a run-off presidential vote after a campaign dominated by divisions over a change to the country's name that was agreed to mollify Greece and open the way for EU and NATO membership.
Presidential poll threatens crisis for pro-West North Macedonia government
North Macedonia goes to the polls on Sunday (5 May) in a presidential run-off vote that will be a litmus test for the pro-Western government, which has warned low turnout could invalidate the vote and trigger a general election.
Juncker looks back on 15 years of ‘big bang’ EU enlargement
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker offered interesting comments on present-day leaders of member states from Central Europe, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the 1 May 2004 accession of 10 countries, known as “the big bang”.
Macron and Merkel try to resurrect Serbia-Kosovo talks at Berlin summit
European leaders will try to bring bitter foes Serbia and Kosovo back to the negotiating table at a regional summit in Berlin on Monday (29 April), hoping to reboot a dialogue over one of the Balkans' thorniest disputes.
Tsipras pays historic visit to North Macedonia
Greece's prime minister will on Tuesday (2 April) pay a historic visit to newly renamed North Macedonia to join in marking the end of a decades-long identity row between the two countries.
Macedonia pledges more reforms to secure EU accession talks
Macedonia's prime minister said Wednesday (30 January) that in addition to changing his country's name, his government was ready to enact further reforms to speed up the start of EU accession talks.
Greek police fire teargas at Macedonia name protesters, MPs queue to speak before vote
Greek police fired teargas to disperse crowds gathered outside parliament on Thursday (24 January) to protest against a deal over the name of neighbouring Macedonia, as an at times angry parliamentary debate spilled into a third day.
Tsipras wins confidence vote, eyes Prespa agreement ratification
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday (16 January) survived a confidence vote after a row over a landmark name deal with Macedonia sunk his four-year coalition.
RSF slams jail sentence for Montenegro reporter on drug charges
An award-winning investigative reporter was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison in Montenegro on drug trafficking charges on Tuesday (15 January), in a ruling slammed by media watchdog RSF as a "disturbing set-back" for press freedom.