The European Commission’s yearly assessment of accession candidates reflects largely favorable progress for Moldova, Ukraine, Albania, and Montenegro, while Serbia and Georgia receive a more critical evaluation.
On Tuesday, the European Commission commended Ukraine’s «remarkable commitment» and advancements toward EU membership but emphasized the need to reverse recent «negative trends,» particularly concerning corruption.
The Commission’s annual progress report on candidate nations notes that it «positively evaluated» Kyiv’s roadmaps and action plans adopted earlier this year regarding the rule of law, public administration reforms, functioning democratic institutions, as well as its negotiating stance on fundamental policy areas.
The document affirms that Brussels is prepared to back Ukraine’s aim to conclude negotiations by the end of 2028, but highlights that Kyiv must expedite reform implementation to meet this target.
“The recent negative developments, especially pressures on specialized anti-corruption bodies and civil society, must be decisively counteracted,” the report stresses.
In July, a law transferred oversight of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) directly under the prosecutor general, undermining their autonomy; this move was rapidly passed by the Verkhovna Rada and signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
This decision sparked widespread protests within Ukraine and drew harsh criticism from Brussels, leading Zelenskyy weeks later to reverse course by introducing legislation aimed at reinstating the independence of these agencies.
Monitoring both NABU and SAPO remains crucial to Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms, which are essential prerequisites for EU membership readiness.
Although Zelenskyy’s initial reversal offered reassurance to Brussels, the cautious tone on Tuesday indicates ongoing EU vigilance in observing Ukraine’s trajectory—especially amid its prolonged defense against Russian aggression—to ensure reforms in the anti-corruption sphere remain effective.
Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine has revitalized the long-stalled EU enlargement process as the Union seeks closer integration with countries along its eastern border.
Nevertheless, Brussels’ acceleration of Ukraine’s accession bid faces political resistance from Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán continues to block progress in negotiations, citing concerns over energy security, agriculture, and the protections for the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathian area.
Ukraine is among nine nations officially in the queue to join the EU, with Kosovo regarded as a potential candidate.
«Significant progress along the EU pathway has already been made by Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine,» European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated before the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Tuesday afternoon.
Kos emphasized that, «given the current speed of reforms,» EU enlargement «is a feasible prospect within the foreseeable future».
She also called on member states to acknowledge the efforts of candidate countries and fulfill their own responsibilities.
Each phase of accession demands unanimous approval from all member states, enabling any EU country to block advancement, often due to bilateral disputes.
Serbia and Georgia receive stern warnings
Regarding Serbia, the largest of the five Western Balkan aspirants, the Commission urges the government to address a broad spectrum of issues such as corruption, rule of law, judicial independence, media freedoms, electoral reforms, and combating foreign misinformation.
“Serbia must overcome the present political deadlock and societal divisions by rebuilding trust among political actors and civil society to establish conditions for inclusive dialogue necessary for carrying out key reforms,” the report concludes.
Serbia’s EU membership bid has been hindered by its officially neutral foreign policy, balancing EU ambitions with maintained relations with Moscow and Beijing.
Its unresolved conflict with Kosovo—a former province whose independence Belgrade refuses to accept—combined with internal political crises, constitutes further obstacles.
The publication coincides with escalating tensions in Serbia over the weekend, marking the anniversary of a tragic incident in Novi Sad where a train station canopy collapsed, killing 16 people including children.
This disaster sparked a year-long, student-led wave of protests denouncing widespread corruption and calling for new elections, challenging the government based in Belgrade.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s status has regressed to being “a candidate country in name only,” Commissioner Kos told MEPs.
“The situation has rapidly worsened with unprecedented democratic backsliding among candidate countries. There has been a marked degradation of the rule of law alongside severe curtailments of fundamental rights. Georgian authorities must urgently change their course to respond to their population’s demand for a European future,” she added.