The European Union could open all accession negotiation chapters with Albania this year, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said in an interview with the European Newsroom and Albania’s state news agency ATA.
“Albania is making very good progress, and we may be able to open all chapter clusters this year,” Kos said, adding that Ukraine and Moldova could also see similar steps based on technical criteria.
Kos described the enlargement process as evolving in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics and growing security concerns across Europe.
“Enlargement today is different from five years ago—and even from December 2024,” she said. “Security is becoming increasingly important, and disruptive external forces want to see the process fail. That’s new.”
She said enlargement remains the EU’s most effective tool to guarantee peace, prosperity and freedom, but acknowledged the need for reforms both within the EU and among candidate countries to meet today’s challenges.
Kos stressed the need to reconcile the EU’s enlargement methodology with the bloc’s geopolitical interests. “We face a tension between security needs and procedural limitations,” she said. “In the short term, we can do a lot—especially in supporting countries like Moldova and Ukraine ahead of key elections.”
The Commission plans to accelerate integration wherever possible, including incorporating candidate countries into the EU’s internal market and frameworks like SEPA and roaming agreements.
Kos also noted the varying pace of reform among candidates. While Albania is progressing, Bosnia and Herzegovina is lagging.
“Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are unable to even appoint a chief negotiator,” she said. “We’re committed to bringing them into the EU, but progress must be merit-based.”
On North Macedonia, Kos reiterated the EU’s position that no formal guarantees can be offered regarding future obstacles, even if constitutional changes requested by Bulgaria are adopted.
“We understand that changing the Constitution is not an easy matter. It is deeply human and understandable that your country seeks guarantees after everything it has gone through. But no such guarantees can be given,” Kos told the European Newsroom, which includes North Macedonia’s state news agency MIA.
She urged Skopje to proceed with reforms and called for bilateral disputes—particularly with Bulgaria—not to interfere with the accession process.
“Bilateral issues should not interfere with EU membership talks. That doesn’t mean they’re not important, but they should not block progress,” she said, referring to Bulgaria’s past veto over identity and language disputes.
Kos added that a new EU approach is reinvigorating the enlargement process, particularly through growth plans for the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine.
“There’s a new momentum,” she said. “There’s strong political will from EU member states to move forward.”
A recent poll by North Macedonia’s Institute for Democracy found 62% public support for EU membership, but only 20% of respondents viewed constitutional changes as necessary for progress in negotiations.
Kos reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the entire region: “No country in the Western Balkans will be left behind.”
Still, she warned that the enlargement process is under more external pressure than ever.
“External actors—particularly from the East—are working to disrupt the process. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we stay the course.”
