Focus: Ukraine, Moldova and the launch of the campaign

The campaign begins with a full focus on Ukraine and Moldova and their paths towards EU membership.

Alongside the official campaign announcement on JEF Europe’s social media channels, we will also use the anniversary of Brexit to reflect on what it means to leave the European Union—and why European cooperation, solidarity and integration remain essential.

Focus: Croatia’s EU success story and the Western Balkans

Croatia’s accession anniversary offers an opportunity to show how EU membership can transform a country over the course of a decade.

The campaign will highlight Croatia’s development within the Union and connect this success story to the European perspectives of the Western Balkan countries.

The month will also include a renewed membership call aimed at strengthening and re-establishing JEF Croatia.

Focus: Iceland, Nordic enlargement and non-EU Europeans

In connection with political developments and the referendum debate in Iceland, the campaign will explore the idea of Nordic enlargement.

We will meet young Europeans who are helping to build Europe from outside the European Union and highlight the political, economic, cultural and social contributions of non-EU countries to the wider European project.

Focus: Making the accession process understandable

How does a country actually become a member of the European Union?

During September, we will break down the technical elements of accession in an accessible format, including:

• the negotiating chapters;
• the Copenhagen Criteria;
• the role of the European Commission and Member States;
• how unanimity and national vetoes can affect the process.

The objective is to explain how a country joins the European Union without unnecessary technical language.

Focus: The annual reports on candidate countries

October will focus on the European Commission’s annual Enlargement Package and its assessments of candidate countries.

We will explain what the reports measure, where progress has been achieved and which reforms are still required.

The campaign will cover all current candidate countries and make the findings understandable and relevant to young Europeans.

Focus: Foreign interference, misinformation and the far right

Foreign information manipulation and interference increasingly shape public debates about European integration and enlargement.

The campaign will examine:

• common myths and misleading narratives about enlargement;
• the role of foreign actors in spreading anti-European messages;
• why populist and far-right movements often oppose further enlargement;
• how young people can identify and challenge misinformation.

Focus: Montenegro and the benefits of enlargement

December will focus intensively on Montenegro and its progress towards EU membership.

The campaign will explain why Montenegro’s accession matters not only for its citizens, but also for the current Member States and the European Union as a whole.

We will highlight the democratic, geopolitical, economic and social benefits of a credible enlargement process.

Focus: The Baltic states and the Eastern Partnership

The Baltic states demonstrate how EU membership can support democratic consolidation, economic transformation and deeper European integration.

Their experience will serve as a starting point for discussions about the future of the Eastern Partnership countries and their relationships with the European Union.

Focus: Schengen, Erasmus+ and educational integration

February will explore how European integration creates concrete opportunities for young people.

The campaign will connect enlargement to:

• freedom of movement and the Schengen area;
• Erasmus+ and educational exchanges;
• the participation of young people from candidate countries in European youth programmes.

We will show that candidate status can already create meaningful opportunities for young people before full EU membership is achieved.

Focus: The 70th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome

In March 2027, Europe will mark 70 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome.

The anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on seven decades of European integration and to ask what the next chapter should look like.

The campaign will connect the history of European unification with the need for institutional reform, enlargement and a more democratic and federal Europe.

Focus: Campaign review and planning the next chapter

The first campaign cycle concludes with a review of the activities, stories and political messages developed throughout the year.

JEF Europe and its sections will evaluate the campaign’s impact, identify lessons learned and begin planning the next year of “EU is Loading”.

Europe is still loading—and the campaign continues.