EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos regards a new wave of enlargement by 2030 as 'realistic' with Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro leading the way. But she warns that progress hinges on merit and commitment by the EU candidate countries to deliver on required reforms.

The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, said a new wave of EU enlargement by 2030 is a 'very realistic perspective', not only for countries like Albania and Montenegro - currently considered frontrunners in the accession process - but also for Moldova and Ukraine.

In an interview with the European Newsroom (enr) published on Wednesday, Kos said she hoped Moldova and Ukraine can open the first cluster of negotiations still during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs until the end of June 2025.

In addition, she was optimistic that there will be a solution to Hungary's veto on Kyiv's accession over the treatment of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.

While Ukraine and Moldova are making rapid progress towards EU membership, countries in the Western Balkans have been waiting for decades.

North Macedonia was one of the first states of the former Yugoslavia to embark on the path of European integration, but due to internal problems and even more so due to blockades by neighboring member states, it is still at the beginning.

The country's government is seeking guarantees that there will be no more blockades due to bilateral issues. Kos said she understands the frustrations, but did not give such guarantees.

In comparison, Kos underlined that negotiations with Montenegro could be closed by the end of 2026, while Albania aims to complete negotiations by 2027.

The EU also remains committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but EU officials are increasingly expressing concerns over internal political blockades that are halting reforms and threatening the country's future on the European path.

'I would be probably the most happy person in the world when we will be able to start negotiating with Bosnia. They really deserve it, the people of Bosnia deserve this', said Kos, adding that it is essential for domestic authorities to take responsibility.

Kos also called on Serbia's incoming new government - which has yet to be confirmed - to be 'pro-European and pro-reform' in order to advance the accession process. She announced plans to visit Belgrade at the end of April.


EU accession remains 'merit-based'

Asked whether it was possible to ensure a balanced approach in the enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans on the one hand, and Ukraine and Moldova on the other, Kos emphasised that it is first and foremost a 'merit-based' process.

Kos stressed no country would be left behind. 'We are strongly committed to bring them into the European Union. But of course, we will stick to the merits.'

Every step in the enlargement process requires the consensus of all member states, and for each candidate country in the accession process, 150 unanimous decisions are needed.

According to Kos, currently 14 member states are in favor of abolishing consensus and moving to qualified majority decision-making, but the problem is that even this change requires consensus.

'We will see if there could be more soon,' said Kos.

The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANSA, APA, ATA, EFE, Europa Press, FENA, HINA, Lusa, MIA, Ritzau, STA, TASR, Tanjug, UKRINFORM, as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project. AGERPRES (editing by: Mariana Ionescu)