Brussels (dpa) – Ukraine must accelerate reforms if it is to meet its self-imposed goal of completing the EU accession process by the end of 2028, according to an EU enlargement report presented on Tuesday.
The assessment notes that, despite “the very difficult circumstances” Ukraine is in due to the war with Russia, the country has shown “remarkable commitment to the EU accession process over the past year.” However, it notes, “recent negative trends, including a pressure on the specialised anti-corruption agencies and civil society, must be decisively reversed,” it said.
The report also calls for Kiev to step up its “alignment with EU standards in the protection of fundamental rights, along with the continuation of public administration and decentralisation reforms.”
“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,” it adds.
The European Commission supports Ukraine’s ambitious timetable, but warns that achieving it will require speeding up reforms, particularly in core areas such as the rule of law.
Western Balkans move forward
The report also assessed other accession candidates, including Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo. Türkiye and Georgia were also under review, though accession processes for both remain stalled due to democratic and rule-of-law deficits.
Montenegro, which started accession talks in 2012, is seen as the frontrunner among the six countries of the Western Balkan region, with negotiations potentially concluding by the end of 2026 if reforms continue, while Albania could finish by the end of 2027.
“They advanced most on reforms in the past year. At the current pace and quality of reforms, we may be able to conclude accession negotiations in the coming years,” said EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
“The commission will insist on the highest quality of reforms, especially on the rule of law, democratic institutions, and fundamental freedoms. There will be no shortcuts,” she added.
Actual accession, however, still requires approval and ratification by all EU member states.
The report again criticizes Georgia and Türkiye. Georgia is described as an accession candidate “in name only,” citing repressive laws, political interference in the judiciary and arbitrary arrests. Türkiye is noted for further backsliding on fundamental rights and rule-of-law standards. (4 November)
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