BRUSSELS — The European Commission set out EU accession roadmaps Wednesday for Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine, charting the reforms and milestones those countries face in the next year.
The plans do not set accession dates. They describe what the Commission expects each candidate to achieve and how it will measure progress, with any opening or closing of negotiating chapters remaining subject to unanimous decisions by EU member states.
Montenegro is closest to joining. It has opened all 33 negotiating chapters and provisionally closed seven, most recently on food safety and veterinary and phytosanitary policy, the Commission said. Its roadmap runs through mid-2027 and sets a closing target for all chapters in 2026.
Albania has opened all six clusters of chapters and provisionally closed two: fundamentals and external relations. The roadmap expects Albania to close fundamentals and the internal market cluster, and to open its remaining clusters, in 2026.
Ukraine and Moldova are at an earlier stage. The Commission said it will keep pushing for both countries to open their fundamentals clusters, but the process has been blocked in the Council of the European Union.
Ukraine seeks to finish the talks by the end of 2028. The roadmap says Ukraine must show it can meet obligations on judicial reform, anti-corruption and fundamental rights, and complete screening and benchmarks for its negotiating clusters.
It also ties support for Ukraine’s reconstruction to reforms in energy, public finance and the rule of law. Moldova’s roadmap, which runs through September 2026, sets milestones on judicial independence, anti-corruption, public administration and media freedom.
“EU enlargement is a strategic investment in Europe’s security and prosperity,” the Commission said in a statement. “Progress is possible, but it is merit-based and conditional on reforms.”
What Happens Next
The roadmaps are one-year plans. They will be reviewed as part of the Commission’s annual enlargement package, and member states will decide whether to advance each country’s talks.
For Montenegro and Albania, that could mean closing more chapters in 2026. Four clusters were opened for Moldova in the past year, and the Commission said it will assess whether to recommend opening the fundamentals cluster for Ukraine and Moldova.
The plans also include gradual integration measures, such as access to parts of the EU single market and funding programs, before full membership.
Progress Stalls Elsewhere
For Serbia, the Commission recorded no substantive movement on the rule of law and said it would not recommend opening new chapters until that changes. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains stalled on constitutional reform, while Georgia’s application is frozen.
Kosovo’s status remains disputed, and the Commission said it would continue to support dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
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