European Commission recommends EU accession status changes for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia

On 8 November 2023, the European Commission recommended that the Council of the European Union opens EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and grants candidate country status to Georgia on the understanding that a number of steps are taken. The Commission also adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, in which the progress of these countries was assessed for the first time. EU4Digital Facility will support these Eastern partner countries in their efforts towards EU accession within its scope to support digital transformation and the harmonisation of digital markets.

Accession to the European Union is a merit-based process, fully dependent on the objective progress achieved by each country. The Enlargement Package report assesses the progress of countries on the path towards accession, focusing on the implementation of fundamental reforms, and provides clear guidance on the reform priorities ahead.

In light of the results achieved by Ukraine and Moldova, and of the ongoing reform efforts, the Commission not only recommended the opening of accession negotiations, but also that the Council adopts the negotiating frameworks once Ukraine and Moldova have adopted certain key measures. The Commission stands ready to report to Council by March 2024 on the progress relating to these measures.

In the case of Georgia, the Commission’s recommendation for candidate country status to be granted is in light of the results achieved, but on the understanding that a number of steps are taken.

The other countries assessed in the 2023 Enlargement Reports are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey.

Next steps

Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement said that the 2023 Enlargement Reports confirm that EU enlargement is firmly back on the policy agenda. 

We must accelerate the enlargement process that will continue to be driven by credible reforms on the fundamentals. In the last months, we have seen the significant results achieved by Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, which clearly show that commitment and determination pay off.

Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

The Council of the European Union shall consider the recommendations of the Commission and take decisions on the steps ahead in the enlargement process.

Commissioner Várhelyi calls upon all partners to “focus on the required reforms” outlined in the Enlargement Reports, “so that we can provide a good assessment for the Council taking the next decisions”.

EU4Digital Facility support for these Eastern partner countries’ efforts towards EU accession will include a new activity in the Telecom Rules thematic area. EU4Digital experts will provide technical and legislative assistance to ensure the Republic of Moldova’s legislation approximates to EU law in the field of electronic communications. This activity will be conducted in close cooperation with the European Commission and representatives of the Republic of Moldova.

Results achieved 

• Ukraine
  In Ukraine, the 2022 decision to grant EU candidate status created a powerful reform dynamic, despite the ongoing war, with strong support from the people of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government and Parliament demonstrated resolve in making substantial progress on meeting the seven steps of the European Commission Opinion on Ukraine’s EU membership application. The country: established a transparent pre-selection system for Constitutional Court judges and reformed the judicial governance bodies; furthered its high-level corruption investigations and convictions and strengthened its institutional framework; took steps in a systemic effort to address the influence of oligarchs; demonstrated its capacity, even during wartime, to make progress in aligning with the EU acquis – the collection of common rights and obligations that constitute the body of EU law, incorporated into the legal systems of EU Member States. 
• Moldova
  Moldova has made important progress on meeting the nine steps set out in the Commission Opinion on Moldova’s EU membership application. It has: launched a comprehensive justice reform; reformed its anti-corruption bodies and increased the number of corruption investigations and convictions; adopted a de-oligarchisation action plan with set timelines; established new legislation to fight organised crime; adopted a public administration strategy for reform at all levels; worked to reform its public finance management and adopted legislation to reform public procurement; enhanced the participation of civil society in the decision-making process and strengthened the protection of human rights.
• Georgia
  Georgia has taken steps to strengthen engagement with the EU and increased the pace of reforms in recent months. To address the twelve priorities identified in the Commission Opinion on Georgia’s EU membership application, the country has: adopted legislative acts and policy actions on organised crime, gender equality, and fighting violence against women, as well as on taking into account European Court of Human Rights judgments; brought forward judicial reform; shared laws as well as an action plan for de-oligarchisation with the Venice Commission – the Council of Europe‘s advisory body on constitutional matters; adopted a strategy on the protection of human rights; concluded a memorandum of cooperation with civil society representatives. Building a strong cross-party political consensus would contribute to addressing polarisation and accelerate its European path.

Further information

For more quotes and details, see the European Commission news article about adoption of the 2023 Enlargement Package.

A factsheet is available in Georgian, Ukrainian, Russian and Romanian, as well as in English, outlining ‘The EU accession process step by step’.

For more details about the Enlargement Package per country, please see:

• Ukraine: Key findings of the report on Ukraine; Ukraine Report 2023; Ukraine 2023 Enlargement Package Factsheet
• Moldova: Key findings of the report on Moldova; Moldova Report 2023; Moldova 2023 Enlargement Package Factsheet
• Georgia: Key findings of the report on Georgia; Georgia Report 2023; Georgia 2023 Enlargement Package Factsheet