In this episode, we dive into European history to celebrate a key milestone: the 20th anniversary of the largest-ever EU enlargement. On 1 May 2004, ten countries in the heart of Europe joined the EU, adding nine new official EU working languages. It was a moment of celebration, unity and limitless opportunity.

The 20th anniversary of the biggest EU enlargement

In November 2023, the European Commission presented its annual enlargement reports. Its strategic orientations and recommendations include accelerating the accession process with the Western Balkan countries, opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and granting candidate status to Georgia. According to the European Parliament's 2022 recommendation on the new EU strategy, enlargement policy is 'the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and one of the Union's most successful policies'.

EPRS Policy Podcast: Enlargement policy - Reforms and challenges ahead

EP Plenary session - New EU strategy for enlargement

Press conference on the 2021 reports on Serbia and Kosovo

EP Plenary session - 2021 Report on Kosovo

EP Plenary session - 2021 Report on Serbia

EP Plenary session - 22021 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina

AFET interparliamentary Committee Meeting - EU Enlargement Policy in the Aftermath of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

EP Plenary session - State of play of the EU - Moldova cooperation

AFET committee meeting. Presentation of the 2016 Enlargement Package by Commissioner in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations

The environment and climate change, cost-of-living crisis, migration, Russia’s war on Ukraine, EU enlargement…  

Members of the European Parliament questioned Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the final State of the Union debate before the 2024 European elections.  
 
Has the von der Leyen Commission done enough this past year? And how will it deliver for EU citizens in the coming months? 

Watch this video to learn more on how Parliament scrutinised the Commission’s track-record and programme before next year's vote.

State of the EU: MEPs press Commission President ahead of elections

Parliament is set to take a final vote on two groundbreaking laws to regulate the online sphere. Members will debate Ukraine and Moldova’s new EU-candidate status; and Czechia’s prime minister will outline his country’s priorities for its 6-month EU Council presidency. All that and more, coming up in Strasbourg.

Digital rules, Ukraine and Council presidency – Coming up in Strasbourg

European citizens voted 40 recommendations, which they will debate with the EU institutions, governments, MPs and civil society at the next Conference Plenary in Strasbourg. Participants met in Maastricht, for the third and final session of the panel on migration and the EU’s role in the world.

Migration, foreign policy: Citizens make recommendations in Maastricht

EU enlargement provides new resources and opportunities for everyone. Only countries meeting strict criteria may join.

How do countries join the EU?

Next week, Parliament willl discuss the recent surge in energy prices and set out its position on EU-US relations. MEPs will discuss how to tackle domestic violence after a separation and look at enhancing the powers of the EU Agency for Asylum.

Coming up in Strasbourg: Energy prices, EU-US relations & asylum

MEPs will vote on the future EU-Vietnam trade deal. Parliament also looks at the talks on future relations between the EU and the UK, how to protect consumers with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, proposed changes to EU accession rules and the gender equality strategy.

Coming up in Strasbourg: EU-Vietnam deal, Brexit, AI and more

For years, Turkey and the EU have cooperated on issues such as trade, migration and NATO. Talks for Turkey to join the EU began in 2005. After an attempted coup d’état in 2016, Turkey  imposed a state of emergency, allowing the government to bypass the rule of law and silence political opponents. The EU says that the country can’t join the European Union unless the human rights situation improves. Vice-Chair of the Delegation on EU-Turkey relations Miltiadis Kyrkos explains where talks stand.

EU-Turkey: Getting out of the deadlock

The EU and Turkey have maintained a strategic partnership for decades and have been negotiating Turkey's accession into the EU since 2005. But recently, relations have been rocky as concerns mount over the state of democracy in Turkey. MEPs are keeping a close eye on developments in the country, with accession talks at stake if conditions deteriorate.

enlargement of the European Union

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