Where the weakest points of the Commission’s proposal lie, and which elements could provide the basis for a new approach to pre-enlargement preparation

The 27 EU ambassadors approved the screening letters for both Ukraine and Moldova after Hungary dropped its reluctance to Kyiv's accession negotiations

Although not legally binding, the Commission's proposal focuses on pre-enlargement gradual integration, new safeguards and passerelle clauses

Nationalist and establishment forces' victory at 4 October vote in Bosnia and Herzegovina is set to prolong political polarisation that has stalled EU reforms

With Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU future stalled, voters will head to the polls on 4 October to renew one of the world's most complex institutional systems

"No crystal ball on this side of the table," the Commission replied to the potential Brexit twist by Labour's Prime Minister Burnham. France and Spain rejoice

The leader of Belarus's democratic forces Tsikhanouskaya calls for the situation to be assessed "as part of the broader debate on European security"

The Commission's proposal for accession roadmaps with conditions and indicative timelines for Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine is expected on 28 October

As The New Union Post, the long-awaited proposal on the pre-enlargement reviews will be presented just one week before the European Council summit

"Enlargement should stop being used as a battlefield for national agendas", warns López Domènech (EPC) on Spain's push for the recognition of linguistic rights

In a Union currently "unready for EU enlargement," the Commission must "shoulder the historic responsibility" of proposing Treaty change, Andrew Duff urges

EU High Representative Kallas met separately with the Serbian and Kosovar leaders in New York. Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and EU path "have to go hand in hand"

After the EU enlargement "Mega Monday" in June and "Super Tuesday" in July, no Accession Conference is scheduled to take place on 22 September

During her traditional tour of the Western Balkans region, Commission President von der Leyen will skip the two countries "in light of the upcoming elections"

Prime Minister Carney supported the ambition of deepening EU-Canada cooperation through an Alliance for the Future, but does have a say "in the terms they use"

In her sixth State of the Union address, von der Leyen only announced that roadmaps for the most advanced candidates will be presented 'soon'

"We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible," the European Commission President said during her 2026 State of the Union address

"The future of our nations belongs in the European Union," reads the memorandum signed by the nationalist leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Ahead of the 25 October vote, the Student List's candidates have been officially presented. Among them is Dejan Bodiroga, President of Euroleague Basketball

An example for Canada's potential EU 'associate member' status may come from the country-specific agreements between Brussels and the two European microstates

France, Poland, Italy, Spain, Greece. "We should not take any country for granted at this moment," warned Montenegro's Minister of European Affairs Gorčević

Amid calls for European Commission President von der Leyen to cancel her trip to Belgrade, Serbian President Vučić confirmed the date of the early vote

The lesson from Iceland's referendum is that the EU is losing in the "far less integrated candidates in terms of security and economics," warns Ćerimagić (ESI)

Enlargement policy is either rejected by European far-right parties, such as Germany's AfD, or seen as a way to reinforce the EU as a union of sovereign nations

After Icelanders rejected the restart of accession talks, a political "tug of war" over the withdrawal of the application may begin, warns Varða's Hróbjartsson

In a referendum, 52,8% of voters said "no" to the option of negotiating the terms of Iceland's EU membership with Brussels, 13 years after the suspension of talks

The 29 August referendum in Iceland is centred on sovereignty, the economy and fisheries. Experts warns that "turnout may end up mattering more than persuasion"

A recent poll shows that the anti-EU camp in Norway has shrunk to below 50% (from 56% in 2024), while the pro-EU camp has risen to 37% (from 30% in 2024)

The Vučić–Zelensky meeting in Belgrade showed that EU enlargement is "the only real common ground" shared by Serbia and Ukraine, says Giorgio Fruscione (ISPI)

The different approaches of the 10-member Team Enlargement could "draw on their respective strengths" to build political consensus, says Valodskaitė (ECFR)

Interview with Marjana Koçeku, the youngest and only independent Albanian MP, on how protests for nature protection and transparency reflect EU values

"If Iceland says yes, it will spark a debate about whether Norway should join that process and how," says Labour MP Sundnes (chair of the European Movement)

The credibility of the EU enlargement process "will depend heavily on its results," says Egmont's Gargano, outlining four scenarios in wartime Europe

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Ukraine to join DiscoverEU programme, which offers free travel passes to 18-year-olds each year

With cybersecurity incidents transcending borders, "if the EU wants to be safe, we also need to keep our partners safe," warn EUISS's Zorić and Bômont

Including accession conditionality within the framework of critical raw materials mining would be "beneficial" for both sides, say BiEPAG's Kmezić and Džihić

From September to December 2026, the events supported by the Commission may take various formats, bringing the debate on EU enlargement closer to EU citizens

Accession Conferences, a referendum in Iceland, pre-enlargement policy reviews, the redistribution of funds, a strategic leaders' discussion on EU enlargement

Negotiations between Albania and the EU have been provisionally finalised on Chapters 25, 26 and 30. The goal is to complete the work by the end of 2027

Negotiations between Moldova and the EU have been opened only on Cluster 6 – External Relations, against a backdrop of dissatisfaction with the slow pace

Negotiations between Montenegro and the EU have been closed on Chapters 8 and 29, bringing the total to 18. The work will continue after the summer break

Negotiations between Ukraine and the EU have been opened on the two chapters related to external relations, bringing the total to 7. Much remains to be done

Four EU Accession Conferences will be held with Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine. But the big prize for Kyiv and Chișinău will not been achieved

Commissioner Kos confirmed that North Macedonia "has qualified" to benefit from the redistribution under the Growth Plan alongside the EU accession frontrunners

Serbia's negotiations on Cluster 3 – 'Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth' are blocked by eight governments over rule of law and foreign policy concerns

The proposal on pre-enlargement reviews – now under a slightly revised title – will be presented just two weeks before the European Council summit

The case of Ukraine and Moldova shows that the 'package approach' in the EU accession process can remain politically driven even when it should have ended

The grace period for the first request for payment under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans expired on 30 June. Bosnia is not affected at this stage

Hungary's reserve on Ukraine's and Moldova's negotiations was lifted at the technical-level meeting on 3 July, but only for Cluster 6 – 'External Relations'