Candidate countries include Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans (2019-2020)

The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

The European Union's enlargement policy is based on established criteria and fair and rigorous conditionality.

Progress along the European path is an objective and merit-based process which depends on the concrete results achieved by each individual country, with the rule of law, justice and fundamental rights being an utmost priority. A credible enlargement perspective requires sustained efforts and irreversible reforms. The EU Enlargement is an investment in peace, security and stability in Europe: a prospect of EU membership has a powerful transformative effect on the partners in the process, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change.

Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey are candidate countries.The European Council has decided to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova in June 2022.

Negotiations are held with each candidate country to determine their ability to apply EU legislation (acquis) and examine their possible request for transition periods.

Enlargement

Candidate countries include Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans - 8th parliamentary term

The country was the first Western Balkan nation to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, which entered into force in April 2004.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was granted candidate country status for EU membership in December 2005. In February 2008, the EU adopted the Accession Partnership for the country, which updated the previous European Partnership agreement of January 2006. Citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were granted visa-free travel to the Schengen area in December 2009.

In June 2018, Macedonia and Greece resolved the conflict with an agreement that the country should rename itself Republic of North Macedonia. This renaming came into effect in February 2019.

EU - North Macedonia (2019-2020)

North Macedonia submitted its membership application in 2004 and became a candidate for accession to the EU in 2005. The Council decided to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on 25 March 2020, following the Commission's proposals on a revised enlargement methodology.

North Macedonia is currently on its way to becoming the 30th member of NATO and hopes for a swift ratification of the NATO Accession Protocol by all partners; it reiterates its belief in the positive impact that the accession of North Macedonia to NATO will have for peace and stability in the region; underlines that the accession of North Macedonia to NATO is an encouraging sign of improved climate in the region.

EU - North Macedonia

On 28 March, Parliament approved the next Erasmus+ programme for 2021-2027.

Erasmus+ is an EU programme supporting opportunities for education, training, young people and sport in Europe. It started as a student exchange programme in 1987, but since 2014 it also offers opportunities for teachers, trainees and volunteers of all ages. More than nine million people have taken part in the Erasmus+ programme over the last 30 years and nearly 800,000 people benefited from the programme in 2017 alone. The programme currently covers 33 countries (all 28 EU countries as well as Turkey, North Macedonia, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and is open to partner countries across the world.

#EUelections2019 - Erasmus +

22nd  EU-North Macedonia joint Parliamentary Committee

Delegation to the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee

20TH MEETING  EU-NORTH MACEDONIA

Address by Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova

Statement by the President

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Composition of Parliament

Verification of credentials

Request for the defence of immunity: see Minutes

Composition of committees and delegations

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71)

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79): see Minutes

Order of business

Votes on requests for urgent procedure (Rule 163)

EU Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova (debate)

The killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Aqla and the violent incidents at her funeral (debate)

2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)

2021 Report on Albania (debate)

Prosecution of the opposition and the detention of trade union leaders in Belarus (debate)

Minimum level of taxation for multinational groups

One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Agenda of the next sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Press conference by Isabel SANTOS, EP Standing Rapporteur for Albania, and Ilhan KYUCHYUK, EP Standing Rapporteur for North Macedonia, on “Reports on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Albania and North Macedonia”

Opening of the sitting

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

Turkey&#39;s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention (debate)

Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes

European strategy for data - Commission evaluation report on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation two years after its application (debate)

First voting session (continuation)

European strategy for data - Commission evaluation report on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation two years after its application (continuation of debate)

2019-2020 Reports on Albania – 2019-2020 Reports on Kosovo – 2019-2020 Reports on North Macedonia – 2019-2020 Reports on Serbia (debate)

Resumption of the sitting

Assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the rule of law in Malta (debate)

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6)) (action taken): see Minutes

Control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use (debate)

Second voting session

Control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use (continuation of debate)

Announcement of voting results

Approval of the minutes of the part-session and forwarding of texts adopted: see Minutes: see Minutes

Dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71) (action taken): see Minutes

Statement by the President 

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020 (debate)

Istanbul Convention and violence against women

Hungarian interference in the media in Slovenia and North Macedonia

The new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (debate)

The new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (continuation of debate)

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Closure of the sitting 

Plenary Session

17th meeting  EU-North Macedonia joint parliamentary committee

17th meeting EU-North Macedonia joint parliamentary committee

The Turkish military operation in northeast Syria and its consequences (debate)

Election of the European Ombudsman – applications received

Welcome

Voting time

Explanations of vote

Corrections to votes and voting intentions : see Minutes

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes

Climate and ecological emergency (topical debate) (debate)

Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report - 2018 (debate)

Search and rescue in the Mediterranean (debate)

Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania (debate)

Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania (continuation of debate)

The situation in Iraq, in particular the violent suppression of young people’s and students' protests (debate)

High-level UN political declaration on Universal Health Coverage (debate)

Plenary

20181128-0900-PLENARY

Composition of Parliament : see Minutes

Verification of credentials 

Request for the waiver of parliamentary immunity 

Composition of committees and delegations 

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 69c): see Minutes

Signature of acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 78)

Order of business 

Debate with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, on the Future of Europe

Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction in accordance with the Paris agreement (debate)

Single Market package (debate)

WTO: the way forward (debate)

2018 Report on Serbia

2018 Report on Kosovo

2018 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (debate)

2018 Report on Albania (debate)

2018 Report on Montenegro (debate)

Defence of academic freedom in the EU's external action

Address by Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

2016 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

2015 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

2014 Progress report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (debate)

2nd European Political Community Summit in Chisinau, Moldova - Meeting with Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI, Prime Minister of North Macedonia

AFET - Exchange of views with Bujar OSMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia

20th EU - North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee

EP Plenary session - 2021 Report on North Macedonia

Ilhan KYUCHYUK meets with Bujar OSMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia

AFET Committee - Exchange of views with Bujar OSMANI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI, Prime Minister of North Macedonia

EP Plenary session - Instrument for pre-accession assistance

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June - Group photo

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit - AFET Committee in association with the EP Standing delegations for the Western Balkans, with the Speakers of the Western Balkans parliaments

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Zoran ZAEV, Prime Minister of North Macedonia.

David SASSOLI, EP President welcomes Zoran ZAEV, North Macedonian Prime Minister

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Stevo PENDAROVSKI, President of North Macedonia

David SASSOLI, EP President meets withStevo PENDAROVSKI, President of North Macedonia

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, participates to the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Before her address to the Council, she speaks to the press. One year after the 2022 summit in Tirana, EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels for their fourth annual summit. The summit is an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and also the need for partners’ sustained and irreversible reform achievements, underpinned by EU values and principles.

EU-Western Balkans Summit: Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Signing ceremony on E-evidence Directive and E-evidence Regulation, Waste batteries regulation and on the decision providing macro-financial assistance to the Republic of North Macedonia by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, and Pascual Navarro Rios, State Secretary for the European Union, on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council.

Signature of COD texts in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council

MEPs vote on the following files: Parliament’s calendar of part-sessions 2024; Macro-financial assistance to North Macedonia - Angelika WINZIG (EPP, AT); Technical adjustments stemming from the political agreements reached on several legislative proposals, including with respect to REPowerEU, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the Union Secure Connectivity programme - Fabienne KELLER (Renew, FR); Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the referral of proposals for legally binding acts to committees and the procedure for solving conflicts of competence - Gabriele BISCHOFF (S&D, DE); Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: legal representatives directive - Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE); Electronic evidence regulation: European production and preservation orders for electronic evidence in criminal matters; and other topics.

Voting session: Parliament’s calendar of part-sessions - 2024 and other topics

MEPs debate on the official start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last July and to call on the EU to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo. They are also likely to urge Serbia to align with the EU’s restrictive measures and policy towards Russia.

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: MEPs debate (part 2)

Closing statements of the MEPs debate on the official start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last July and to call on the EU to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo. They are also likely to urge Serbia to align with the EU’s restrictive measures and policy towards Russia. Opening statements by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: closing statement by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: MEPs debate (continuation of part 1)

MEPs debate on the official start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last July and to call on the EU to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo. They are also likely to urge Serbia to align with the EU’s restrictive measures and policy towards Russia. first part of the debate.

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the official start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last July and to call on the EU to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo. They are also likely to urge Serbia to align with the EU’s restrictive measures and policy towards Russia. opening statements by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: opening statement by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

On the 14th September 2022, Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, delivers her State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech in the European Parliament. This infoclip illustrates one of the main stake of the coming year: the future of the Europea Union. Following the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoe) which took place from May 2021 to May 2022, EU citizens have asked for a revision of the treaties and a reconstruction of the EU. Furthermore, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have been granted the candidate status to join the EU, while discussions to enlarge the European Union to Western Balkans countries are ongoing.

Infoclip: Future of the European Union

MEPs and members of parliaments from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine debate the future prospect of EU enlargement in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Opening remarks by David McALLISTER (EPP,DE), Chair of the AFET Committee and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

EU enlargement policy in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Opening remarks by David McALLISTER (EPP,DE), Chair of the AFET Committee and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

&lt;p>EU and Western Balkan leaders meet in Brussels ahead of the June European Council meeting. Leaders discuss progress on EU integration and the challenges stemming from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.&lt;/p>

EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting: arrival and doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

The voting session inclides: Temporary trade liberalisation supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products under EU/Ukraine Association Agreement - Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV); Eurojust: collection, preservation and analysis of evidence relating to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; Extension of the empowerment to adopt delegated acts; Annual implementation report on the EU association agreement with the Republic of Moldova - Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew, RO); Commission’s 2021 Rule of Law report - Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE); 2021 Report on North Macedonia - Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew, BG); 2021 Report on Albania - Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT); Prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus; Minimum level of taxation for multinational groups - Aurore LALUCQ (S&D,FR); Establishing the European Education Area by 2025; The fight agains impunity of war crimes in Ukraine.

Voting session, including: Eurojust and the Resolution on the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine

In two resolutions, MEPs are set to warn that the enlargement process could potentially have historically important implications for security in Europe. The draft reports, to be put to a vote on Thursday, assess the progress made by North Macedonia towards EU membership. They urge the Council to officially start accession negotiations with both countries, pointing to the geostrategic context of relations with Russia and its aggression against Ukraine. Closing statements by Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew, BG), rapporteur and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

2021 Report on North Macedonia: closing statements by Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew, BG), rapporteur and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

In two resolutions, MEPs are set to warn that the enlargement process could potentially have historically important implications for security in Europe. The draft reports, to be put to a vote on Thursday, assess the progress made by North Macedonia towards EU membership. They urge the Council to officially start accession negotiations with both countries, pointing to the geostrategic context of relations with Russia and its aggression against Ukraine.

2021 Report on North Macedonia: MEPs debate

In two resolutions, MEPs are set to warn that the enlargement process could potentially have historically important implications for security in Europe. The draft reports, to be put to a vote on Thursday, assess the progress made by North Macedonia towards EU membership. They urge the Council to officially start accession negotiations with both countries, pointing to the geostrategic context of relations with Russia and its aggression against Ukraine. Opening statements by Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew,BG), rapporteur and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

2021 Report on North Macedonia: opening statements by Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew, BG), rapporteur and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI, Prime Minister of North Macedonia in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) hold an exchange of views with the Speakers of the Parliaments from the Western Balkans on the key role of Parliaments in the EU enlargement proces, in Brussels. Extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments.

2nd European Parliament - Western Balkans Speakers Summit: extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments

David SASSOLI, EP President, invites speakers from the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to meet for the Summit of EP - Western Balkans’ Speakers of Parliament. They debate the role that parliaments should play in EU post-COVID-19 enlargement.

2nd EP - Western Balkans Speakers' summit chaired by David SASSOLI, EP President; arrivals, roundtable, signing of joint declaration of Western Balkans Speakers Summit 2021 and family photo

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