EU accelerates accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova as reforms stall in Balkans
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9 days · 11 summary articles
The European Parliament on Wednesday assessed the EU accession progress of five Western Balkans countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro—amid calls for deeper reforms and stronger conditionality.
MEPs in the Committee on Foreign Affairs reviewed the state of play in each dossier, highlighting uneven progress and persistent democratic backsliding in several capitals. The review comes as the Commission warns that national capitals and the Parliament itself are slowing its drive to cut red tape, a deregulation agenda it says could unlock billions in economic gains if unblocked.
Georgia and Türkiye also featured prominently on Wednesday, with MEPs reiterating that no accession progress is possible without concrete reforms. The Parliament cited continued democratic backsliding in both countries and urged a stronger EU response, including targeted conditionality and potential suspension of negotiating chapters where necessary.
In parallel, the Council of the EU began technical preparations on 17 June to open negotiating clusters 2 through 6 for Ukraine and Moldova. The Working Party on Enlargement (COELA), comprising experts from all 27 member states, started reviewing screening results for the remaining clusters, formally launching the process that diplomats say may not be completed by July due to the complexity of negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s latest country report on Italy underscored persistent structural weaknesses despite “significant” progress in fibre optics, digital government and skills. The findings highlight ongoing delays and limitations that continue to hamper convergence with EU benchmarks.
On trade, the European Parliament gave broad backing to the new EU-US Turnberry tariff arrangement, adopting implementing regulations by 440 votes to … in Strasbourg. MEPs framed the deal as pragmatic and necessary, offering European businesses greater certainty amid global uncertainty.
Climate policy delivered mixed signals as preliminary data showed EU greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2025, reversing earlier downward trends and underscoring the bloc’s stagnating pollution-slashing efforts.
In technology sovereignty, EU leaders intensified calls for AI autonomy at the G7 after the United States blocked access to Anthropic models, accelerating plans to develop home-grown alternatives.
The European Commission also announced it will release €2.3 billion in loans to Ukraine within days, according to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič speaking in the European Parliament.
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The European Parliament reviewed the EU accession progress of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Learn more: link.europa.eu/tjD9V7
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