Statement: Between Progress and Backsliding – the State of Enlargement
Brussels, 10.11.2025
Key Points:
- The Commission published its annual report on the Enlargement Package, which describes the state of progress of reforms of the EU accession countries;
- Positively to note is the progress made by countries such as Montenegro and Albania;
- Unfortunately democratic backsliding and rule of law repressions are increasing in Serbia and Georgia;
- JEF Europe regrets that the Commission’s own initiative report on Enlargement hasn’t been published together with the package;
- JEF Europe demands that the Commission and the Council implement the requests laid out in the Gozi Report to break enlargement deadlock caused by unanimity
The European Commission presented last week its annual report on the enlargement package summarising the state of the progress of the enlargement countries. It assesses the state of the countries that are currently on their way to EU accession: Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Türkiye and Georgia.
It is positive to see that some progress has been made putting some countries on a good trajectory. Countries such as Montenegro and Albania have made great progress in closing chapters in the negotiation talks. Moldova and Ukraine both already passed the screening process in record time.
JEF Europe welcomes the ambition of Montenegro, Moldova and the European Commission to finalise negotiations by 2026 and 2028 respectively. This sends a clear message towards the candidate countries that the EU is supportive and committed to welcome them as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, we can also see democratic backsliding and regression of the Rule of Law and Democracy, especially in countries such as Serbia and Georgia. There, their governments are openly undermining the Rule of Law by repressing and silencing pro democracy and pro European (often young) voices. All the while flaunting with autocracies such as Russia and China, thereby further distancing themselves from Europe.
And it has to be said: the current enlargement process is still too slow. Enlargement fatigue is still lurking within the EU but also enlargement burnout in the accession countries is growing more and more present. But, instead of proposing bold solutions, the EU considers establishing a two tier EU in which countries can be a member, but without voting rights. This is nothing short of preventing what the EU stands for and the very idea of enlargement, which was therefore rightly refused by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. The EU needs to consider the measures and changes requested in the Gozi Report recently adopted by the European Parliament.
“The progress made by countries such as Montenegro and the Commission’s commitment to ambitious targets like 2026 are encouraging. However, it is essential to reform the overall enlargement process and prepare for the next country joining. Lasting progress can only be ensured through a comprehensive reform of the EU treaties to prepare the EU and removing the unanimity during the enlargement process.” Christelle Savall, President of JEF Europe, comments:
JEF Europe regrets that the Commission failed to publish its initiative “policy reviews and reforms to prepare the EU for enlargement” on time, scheduled for the 4th of November. The new date will now be the 18th of November during the EU Enlargement Forum.
JEF Europe therefore demands that the changes made in the Gozi Report be implemented as well as go beyond that by pushing for treaty change in order to get rid of the roadblocks, such as unanimity, that hampers enlargement speed. This would increase the accession speed as well as the credibility of the EU trusted partner. Because, the accession countries have to implement reforms to adapt, but what about the EU – where are its reforms?
About JEF Europe
The Young European Federalists (JEF) Europe is a non-partisan youth NGO with 10,000 members active in over 35 countries. The organisation strives towards a federal Europe based on the principles of democracy and subsidiarity as well as respect for human rights. JEF promotes true European Citizenship, and works towards more active participation of young people in democratic life. While the umbrella organisation JEF Europe was founded in 1972, its sections have been operating continuously since the end of the Second World War, making it the oldest pro-European and only federalist youth organisation.
Further Reading
Contact:
Christelle Savall
President
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
president@jef.eu