V današnjem prispevku se bomo podrobneje seznanili z evropsko zgodovino in se osredotočili na ključni mejnik: dvajseto obletnico največje širitve Evropske unije. Prvega maja 2004 se je Evropski uniji pridružilo deset držav v osrčju Evrope, Unija pa je dobila devet novih uradnih delovnih jezikov. To je bil trenutek praznovanja, enotnosti in neomejenih možnosti.

Dvajseta obletnica največje širitve Evropske unije

Evropska unija je politična in gospodarska unija 27 držav članic, pridružiti pa se ji želijo še številne druge države. Trenutno je devet kandidatk, postopek pridružitve pa je dolg in zapleten.

Širitev Evropske unije

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

Evropska unija je politična in gospodarska skupnost 27 držav članic. Za vstop v unijo je zaprosilo tudi več drugih držav. Sedem jih je držav kandidatk, tri pa so potencialne kandidatke. Pot do članstva je dolga in zapletena.

Kako poteka širitev Evropske unije?

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

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

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)

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

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

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 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

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

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

Sprejeti sklep o strategiji širitve EU-Zahodni Balkan (razprava)

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

Širitev in okrepitev schengenskega območja: Bolgarija, Romunija in Hrvaška (razprava)

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

iritev: politike, merila in strateški interesi EU (razprava)

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

Poročilo o širitvi za Črno goro (razprava)

Enlargement report for Montenegro (debate)

Poročilo o širitvi za Turčijo (razprava)

Enlargement report for Turkey (debate)

Poročilo o širitvi za Kosovo (razprava)

Enlargement report for Kosovo (debate)

Poročilo o širitvi za Srbijo (razprava)

Enlargement report for Serbia (debate)

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

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - EU enlargement policy 2023

AFET - Presentation of the 2023 Enlargement Package and the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans bythe Commissioner Olivér Várhely.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

AFET Interparliamentaryy Committee Meeting ' Moving the EU enlargement forward - 20 years since the Thessaloniki Declaration '

Minority Intergroup - Minority rights in the EU enlargement process

AFET - Exchange of views with Gert-Jan KOOPMAN, Director-General, European Commission, Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations

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 the European Commission review together the latest developments in the Western Balkans and assess the political situation in three accession countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia. Extracts from the debates.

EU enlargement to Western Balkans - Political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia: extracts from the debates

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

Although EU-Turkey relations have improved slightly recently, MEPs are worried about the continued deterioration of fundamental rights and rule of law in the country. MEPs are also expected to welcome Turkey’s willingness to act as a mediator in the Russian war against Ukraine and to stress that it is vitally important that the EU and Turkey cooperate well on foreign and security policy. MEPs raise the issue of Turkey’s president being opposed to Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO. Closing statements by Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR (S&D, ES), rapporteur and Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

Report on Turkey: closing statements by Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR (S&D, ES), rapporteur and Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Parliament assess the latest developments in the EU’s relations with Moldova in a debate. Moldova’s Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria was recently rocked by as series of explosions, increasing fears that the enclave may be drawn into the war in neighbouring Ukraine and of Kremlin-led attempts to undermine Moldova’s current pro-Western government. Closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

State of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Parliament assess the latest developments in the EU’s relations with Moldova in a debate. Moldova’s Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria was recently rocked by as series of explosions, increasing fears that the enclave may be drawn into the war in neighbouring Ukraine and of Kremlin-led attempts to undermine Moldova’s current pro-Western government. Opening statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

State of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation: opening statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

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

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

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the extra-budgetary EU Trust Funds for external assistance as well as the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. Opening statements by Sira REGO (The Left, ES) (LIBE) and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

Implementation report on the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey: opening statements by Sira REGO (The Left, ES) and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the extra-budgetary EU Trust Funds for external assistance as well as the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. Closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP,PL), rapporteur.

Implementation report on the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL), rapporteur

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

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

During the plenary session (23-24 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Closing statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina: closing statements by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

During the plenary session (23-24 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Opening statement by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), rapporteur, Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina: opening statements by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), rapporteur, Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Council of the EU and by Olivier VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: opening statements by Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), rapporteur, Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: opening statements by Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), rapporteur, Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: closing statements by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (17-20 May 2021), MEPs debate on the 2019-2020 Reports on Turkey 2019-2020. closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

2019-2020 Reports on Turkey: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

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