2022 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy

Author (Corporate)
Series Details COM (2022) 528
Publication Date 12/10/2022
Content Type

Summary:

Communication adopted by the European Commission on 12 October 2022, taking stock of progress in the implementation of the EU's enlargement policy. It provides an overview to the 2022 Enlargement Package - a set of annual reports assessing the implementation of fundamental reforms in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (Turkey).

Further information:

This Enlargement Package provides a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by the countries in Western Balkans and Turkey on their respective paths towards the European Union (EU), with a particular focus on implementing reforms, as well as guidance on the reform priorities ahead.

The EU's enlargement policy was brought back to the fore of the EU's agenda by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Following the applications for EU membership submitted by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, the European Council endorsed in June 2022 the European Commission's recommendations to recognise the European perspective of the three applicants and granting the status of EU Candidate Country to Moldova and Ukraine.

The unequivocal commitment to EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans was also then reconfirmed by EU leaders. In July 2022, the first intergovernmental conferences on accession negotiations took place with North Macedonia and Albania. Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro aligned with EU sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Serbia and Turkey decided not to align with the restrictive measures.

In the framework of this package, the European Commission recommended that Bosnia & Herzegovina be granted candidate status by the Council of the European Union. On Turkey, the Commission highlights that accession negotiations continued at a standstill and that the country continued to move away from the EU.

The individual annual reports can be found below:

Source Link https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2022:528:FIN
Alternative sources
  • https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/2022-communication-eu-enlargement-policy_en
Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
RFE/RL, 13/10/2022: With Bosnia Recommendation, Is EU Enlargement Firmly Back On Track? https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-eu-enlargement-ukraine/32080780.html
EurActiv, 16/10/2022: For the EU, enlargement is no longer a one-way street https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/for-the-eu-enlargement-is-no-longer-a-one-way-street/
Balkan Insight: Analysis, 18/10/2022: EU has ‘Big Expectations’ of Bosnia, but Can the Country Deliver? https://balkaninsight.com/2022/10/18/eu-has-big-expectations-of-bosnia-but-can-the-country-deliver/

News
Euronews, 12/10/2022: Brussels recommends granting Bosnia the status of EU candidate, but with conditions https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/12/brussels-recommends-granting-bosnia-the-status-of-eu-candidate-but-with-conditions
Politico, 12/10/2022: European Commission recommends candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-recommends-eu-candidate-status-for-bosnia-and-herzegovina/
Kathimerini, 12/10/2022: EU blasts Turkey over Greek airspace violations, threats in enlargement report https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1195461/eu-blasts-turkey-over-greek-airspace-violations-threats-in-enlargement-report/
Bloomberg, 12/10/2022: Bosnia Inches Toward EU Entry Goal Decades After War Ends https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-12/eu-proposes-to-give-bosnia-candidate-status-for-bloc-membership
France24, 12/10/2022: Brussels recommends Bosnia for EU candidate status https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221012-brussels-recommends-bosnia-for-eu-candidate-status
Le Monde, 12/10/2022: EU Commission recommends Bosnia-Herzegovina obtain candidate status https://www.lemonde.fr/en/europe/article/2022/10/12/eu-commission-recommends-bosnia-herzegovina-obtain-candidate-status_6000085_143.html
Reuters, 12/10/2022: EU proposes candidate status for Bosnia https://www.reuters.com/article/eu-enlargement-bosnia-idAFKBN2R71BT
EUObserver, 12/10/2022: Bosnia recommended for EU candidacy, but Serbia warned https://euobserver.com/world/156273

Official
EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)332: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - Albania 2022 Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:332:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)333: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - Türkiye 2022 Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:333:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)334: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - Kosovo 2022 Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:334:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)335: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - Montenegro 2022 Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:335:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)336: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022 Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:336:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)337: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - North Macedonia 2022 Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:337:FIN
EUR-LEX: SWD(2022)338: Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication - Serbia 2022 Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2022:338:FIN
European Commission: Policies: EU Enlargement https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/eu-enlargement_en
European Commission: Press Release, 12/10/2022: 2022 Enlargement package: European Commission assesses reforms in the Western Balkans and Türkiye and recommends candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_6082
European Commission: Opening remarks by Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi at the press conference on the 2022 Enlargement package (12 October 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_6144
S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 12/10/2022: EU Enlargement process: Serbia, as any candidate country, should stop making a mockery of democracy and join EU sanctions against Russia, says Tonino Picula https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/eu-enlargement-process-serbia-any-candidate-country-should-stop-making-mockery-democracy
Slovenian Government: News, 12/10/2022: Prime Minister Robert Golob’s response to the presentation of the European Commission Enlargement Report https://www.gov.si/en/news/2022-10-12-prime-minister-robert-golobs-response-to-the-presentation-of-the-european-commission-enlargement-report/

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