EU prepares accession plans for four countries

The European Union is drafting proposals to provide Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova, and Albania with step-by-step plans for joining the EU.

Two senior European Union officials told Politico about this.

The "road maps" are expected to contain a list of the necessary reforms, indicative timelines for their implementation, and the completion of negotiating clusters. According to a representative of the European Commission, the documents will also define the obligations of EU member states to advance the process.

All four countries are already conducting accession negotiations. In 2026, Ukraine and Moldova opened their first negotiating clusters, while Montenegro continues to close individual negotiating chapters.

At the same time, similar plans are not envisaged at this stage for Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the officials, they will also not be offered to Georgia, Turkey, and Serbia, whose negotiation processes are effectively frozen or not advancing.

The initiative is being considered as part of a review of EU policy on preparing for enlargement. Separately, there is discussion of the possibility of gradually integrating candidate countries into European economic and joint projects depending on the progress achieved.

According to Politico, the relevant proposals are to be presented to European officials on October 6.