At a glance: the Committee on Foreign Affairs to vote on EU security and defence policies, focusing on relations with Ukraine, Russia and China and on enlargement; the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Budgets are set to vote on a Reform and Growth Facility of around EUR 1.8 billion to support Moldova’s reforms aimed at EU membership; a new parliamentary committee on the EU housing crisis will hold its first meeting.

Brèves – 29/01/2025 - français

At a glance: the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement; the approaching European elections; and the 2024 Europe Day celebrations.

Brèves – 02/05/2024 – français

Dans cet épisode, nous nous replongeons dans l’histoire de l’Union européenne pour en célébrer une étape clé: le 20e anniversaire du plus grand élargissement de l’Union! Le 1er mai 2004, dix pays au cœur de l’Europe ont rejoint l’Union européenne, ajoutant ainsi neuf nouvelles langues de travail officielles. C’était un moment de fête, d’unité et de possibilités illimitées.

Le 20e anniversaire du plus grand élargissement de l’Union européenne

At a glance: the 20th anniversary of the biggest EU enlargement; President Metsola visit to Malta and Europe’s Days.

Brèves – 30/04/2024 – français

L’Union européenne est une union politique et économique regroupant 27 États membres. Un certain nombre de pays ont demandé à rejoindre l’Union. Il y a actuellement neuf pays candidats. Le processus d’adhésion à l’Union européenne est toutefois long et complexe.

L’élargissement de l’Union européenne: comment ça marche?

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

L’Union européenne est une union politique et économique regroupant 27 États membres. Un certain nombre de pays ont demandé à rejoindre l’Union. Il y a actuellement sept pays candidats et trois candidats potentiels. Le processus d’adhésion à l’Union européenne est toutefois long et complexe.

L’élargissement de l’Union européenne: comment ça marche

Interview with Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 on the enlargement (audio only)

The story of the EP by its Presidents: Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 - 1. The 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 (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

On May 1, 2004, ten&nbsp;new member states joined the European Union, marking the&nbsp;largest enlargement in terms of people and number of countries in the EU's history. Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the Union, growing from 15 to 25 members.

The European Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of these ten nations joining the European Union&nbsp;and engaging in the EP's democratic process to defend the interests of European citizens.

20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union

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

MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee meet Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. The discussion is expected to focus on the state of play and the progress made by the ten enlargement countries.

AFET debate with Marta KOS, Commissioner  for Enlargement

Marta Kos is self-employed, working through Kos Consulting and Coaching since 2021. From 2017 to 2021, she was the Slovenian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the Ambassador to Germany and Latvia (2013-2017). She is now the European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, Commissioner-designate, Enlargement

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago.

During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

Formal sitting commemorating the 20th anniversary of the EU's biggest enlargement

AFET - Presentation of the 2025 Enlargement Package by Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement

Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting Presentation of the 2025 Enlargement Package by Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement

AFET

Committee on Foreign Affairs Extraordinary meeting Structured dialogue with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement

Press point by Marta KOS, Commissioner-designate for Enlargement

Press point by David MCALLISTER (EPP, Germany), Chair of AFET, following the confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, Commissioner-designate for Enlargement

CONFIRMATION

HEARING

Press conference by Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Renew Europe President, on the enlargement of the group

Press conference by Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Joint meeting / Climate Change in the Mediterranean: situation of the UfM members in the enlargement area

Press point following the hearing of Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Hearing of Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Federica MOGHERINI - Vice-President of the Commission, and Johannes HAHN, Commissioner for the Enlargement Package

Décision adoptée sur la stratégie d’élargissement de l’UE - Les Balkans occidentaux (débat)

Decision adopted on the EU Enlargement Strategy - Western Balkans (debate)

Élargissement et renforcement de la zone Schengen: Bulgarie, Roumanie et Croatie (débat)

Enlargement and strengthening of the Schengen area: Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia (debate)

F. MOGHERINI - High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - J. HAHN - EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations - and C. STYLIANIDES - EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management

Štefan FÜLE - European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy

Politiques et critères d'élargissement et intérêts stratégiques de l'Union européenne en la matière (débat)

Enlargement: policies, criteria and the EU's strategic interests (debate)

Rapport sur l'élargissement au Monténégro (débat)

Enlargement report for Montenegro (debate)

Rapport sur l'élargissement à la Turquie (débat)

Enlargement report for Turkey (debate)

EP Plenary session - Institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Oliver VÁRHELYI, Commissioner for Neigbourhood and Enlargement

EP Plenary session.- 2023 and 2024 reports on North Macedonia

CONT - Public Hearing on Two Decades of progress: Evaluating the successes and lessons in implementing the EU budget from the Enlargements since 2004

EP Plenary session - Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges

AFET Working group on Western Balkans  - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement on the state of play of the enlargement process with regard to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia

AFET - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement.- Press point

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

EP Plenary session - Pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Interviews

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Arrivals and family photo

EP Plenary session - 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement

AFET - Exchange of views with Foreign Affairs Ministers of Member States on the EU enlargement policy ahead of the March 2024 European Council

EP Plenary session - Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement

EP Plenary session - Council and Commissions statements - 30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy

Statement by Stefan FÜLE (Czech Republic), Commissioner-designate for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, during his hearing at EP Committees on Foreign Affairs, Development and International Trades in Brussels.

Hearing of Stefan FÜLE (Czech Republic), Commissioner-designate for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy: extracts

Le traité de Lisbonne aidera-t-il l'Europe à faire face à l'élargissement? Les frontières de l'Union devraient-elles être définies selon des lignes géographiques, ou entre 'fervents défenseurs' et les autres? EuroparlTV a réuni trois eurodéputés d'anciens

Forum: Le bon moment pour s'élargir?

This infoclip illustrates general views of Istanbul and Ankara.

Infoclip: Turkey

Hearing of Olli REHN (Finland), Commissioner designate for Enlargement: extracts

Enlargement ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg: Preparation by the Eurocorps militar force.

Enlargement ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg: Preparation by the Eurocorps militar force

Enlargement Ceremony at the European Parliament : Presentation of the flags by the Presidents of the Czech, Estonian, Cyprus and Hungarian Parliaments - Addresses by Pat COX, EP President and Lech WALESA, former Polish President

Enlargement Ceremony at the European Parliament : Presentation of the flags by the Presidents of the Czech, Estonian, Cyprus and Hungarian Parliaments - Addresses by Pat COXV and Lech WALESA

Enlargement ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg: arrival and family picture of Presidents of Parliaments of the new Members States and EU Ambassadors.

Enlargement ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg: arrival and family picture of Presidents of Parliaments of the new Members States and EU Ambassadors

The European Parliament welcomes 10 new member states of the EU in May 2004. With arrivals of Elmar BROK, Lech WALESA, Michel BARNIER, and MEPs from new member states.

Enlargement Ceremony : extracts from the arrivals and from the address by Pat COX, EP President

Press conference by former Polish President Lech WALESA : 2004 enlargement ceremony.

Press conference by former Polish President Lech WALESA : 2004 enlargement ceremony

The European Parliament welcomes 10 new member states of the EU in May 2004. Including speeches by Pat COX, EP President, and former Polish President Lech WALESA. Presentation of flags by representatives of each of the new member states: Petr PITHART, President of the Senate of the Czech Republic and Lubomir ZAORALEK, President of the Lower House of the Czech Republic; Ene ERGMA, President of the Parliament of Estonia; Dimitris CHRISTOFIAS, President of the Chamber of Representatives of Cyprus; Andris ARGALIS, Vice-President of the Parliament of Latvia; Ceslovas JURSENAS, Acting President of the Parliament of Lithuania; Laszlo MANDUR, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Hungary; Anton TABONE, President of the Chamber of Representatives of Malta; Josef OLEKSY, President of the Polish Diet; Borut PAHOR, President of the National Assembly of Slovenia; Pavol HRUSOVSKY, President of the Parliament of Slovakia.

Official 2004 enlargement ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

2004 enlargement ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg: extracts from the press conference by Lech WALESA, former Polish President

During the plneary session 09.04.2003 MEPs voted on the the enlargement of the European Union. Signing of the document giving Parliament's assent to the enlargement of the European Union by Par COX, President of the European Parliament.

Enlargement - Request for EU membership: vote on the assent (09.04.2003)

Exchange of views with Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen during a meeting of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on the Economic and Monetary aspects of enlargement.

Exchange of views with Enlargement Commissioner Gunter VERHEUGEN, EC Member in charge of Enlargement on the Economic and Monetary aspects of enlargement: extracts - ECON Committee

Hearing of Gunther VERHEUGEN (Germany), Commissioner designate for the Enlargement at the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs and a delegation of the Committee on Agriculture.

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