Plan for EU accession of Montenegro and Albania announced: first expansion since 2013

The European Commission outlined a timeline for candidate countries seeking EU membership, emphasizing the need for reforms in democracy, economy, and rule of law. Montenegro and Albania, along with Ukraine and Moldova, are making progress but lack a set accession date. Ukraine aims to conclude negotiations by next year, though the Commission deems this ambitious, urging faster reforms in judiciary and governance. Other candidates like Serbia and Turkey face stalled negotiations. Montenegro's accession would mark the EU's first expansion since 2013, with the Commission prioritizing a stronger union.