Page 60 - bne IntelliNews monthly magazine December 2023

60 I Eastern Europe bne December 2023
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said enlargement is "the call of history" at a press briefing on November 8. / www.shutterstock.com
Ukraine and Moldova recommended for EU accession talks, Western Balkans urged to speed up reforms
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The European Commission recommended starting accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on the release of its latest package of enlargement reports on November 8
There was also good news for Georgia, as the Commission recommended giving the country candidate status, contingent on further reforms, as well as the start of accession negotiations with Bosnia & Herzegovina, again depending on the country's reform progress.
For the longstanding accession candidates in the Western Balkans –
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Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – the verdict was mixed. The Commission’s reports noted progress in some areas, but pointed to a stalling of reforms in Montenegro in particular.
Ukraine and Moldova to move ahead
Both Ukraine and Moldova were given EU candidate status in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed the EU to refocus on enlargement.
“Enlargement is a vital policy for the European Union. Completing our union is the call of history, the natural horizon of our union. Completing our union, also has a strong economic and geopolitical logic,” commented
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the release of the package.
The European Commission’s statement on November 8 talked of a “powerful reform dynamic” in Ukraine after the country secured candidate status.
“In light of the results achieved by Ukraine and Moldova, and of the ongoing reform efforts, the Commission has recommended that the Council opens accession negotiations with both countries,” a Commission statement said.
It recommends that the EU Council adopts the negotiating frameworks once