"Ten countries are currently aiming to join the bloc a list that also includes Moldova, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Turkey. "Expanding the Union is in our best interest," the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters in Brussels. "Joining the European Union remains a fair, tough and merit-based process. But now, new countries joining the European Union by 2030 is a realistic goal," she added."
"Despite continuing to face the challenges of Russia's ongoing invasion and Hungary continuing to block formal progress in Ukraine's membership negotiations, the Commission praised Kyiv's commitment to accession. While offering support to Ukraine's ambitious timetable of joining by the end of 2028, having only applied for EU membership in 2022, the report stated a need to speed up reforms and crack down on corruption."
"Noting "recent negative trends, including a pressure on the specialized anti-corruption agencies and civil society," the report said those actions must be reversed. Protests earlier this year against the crackdown on the anti-corruption units saw Kyiv quickly back down, but the incident caught the attention of Ukraine's European allies. "Continued progress is also required in reinforcing the independence, integrity, professionalism, and efficiency in the judiciary, prosecution and law enforcement sectors, as well as the fight against organized crime," the report added."
The European Commission praised Ukraine and Montenegro while criticizing Serbia and Georgia. Ten countries are currently aiming to join the EU, including Moldova, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Turkey. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said expanding the Union is in the EU's best interest and described accession as a fair, tough, merit-based process, calling new members by 2030 a realistic goal. Kyiv faces Russia's invasion and Hungary's blockade of formal negotiations but received conditional support for an end-of-2028 accession timetable. Ukraine must speed up reforms, reverse pressure on anti-corruption agencies, strengthen judicial independence and fight organized crime.
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