EU accelerates accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova as reforms stall in Balkans
Story Timeline
2 months · 33 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.
Follow us for live European news
- 3
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
1 further source not geolocated
Articles
The European Parliament reviewed the EU accession progress of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Learn more: link.europa.eu/tjD9V7
bluesky bot · about 2 months ago
The European Union did not manage to reduce its planet-warming emissions last year, with preliminary data showing a slight increase in pollution levels compared to 2024.
bluesky bot · about 2 months ago
Switzerland, Sotomo poll: Swiss–EU new agreements Support: 59 Oppose: 33 Fieldwork: 5-12 June 2026 Sample size: 1,794 ➤ europeelects.eu/switzerland #SwitzerlandEUrelations #SwitzerlandEU
telegram bot · about 2 months ago
Council of EU begins technical preparations to open Clusters 2-6 for Ukraine and Moldova The Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA), which consists of experts from all 27 EU member states, has begun reviewing the screening results for all unopened clusters for Ukraine and Moldova (Clusters 2-6) on 17 June, formally launching preparations for their opening.
ukrpravda · about 2 months ago
EU may not open all negotiating clusters for Ukraine in July due to lack of time EU diplomats doubt that all negotiating clusters for Ukraine will be opened in July 2026 due to the complexity of the negotiations.
ukrpravda · about 2 months ago
Bulgaria opposes part of new EU sanctions package over Patriarch Kirill Bulgaria has stated its objection to the European Unions 21st sanctions package against Russia over plans to include Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on the sanctions list.
ukrpravda · about 2 months ago
Acquisti online, dal 19 giugno sarà più facile annullare un ordine: cosa cambia per consumatori e aziende Cambiare idea dopo un acquisto online diventerà più semplice. Da venerdì 19 giugno entrano infatti in vigore nuove regole che impongono ai venditori di rendere più immediato lesercizio del diritto di recesso per chi compra sul web. La novità nasce dal recepimento di una direttiva europea e introduce nel Codice del consumo nuovi obblighi per […] Larticolo Acquisti online, dal 19 giugno sarà più facile annullare un ordine: cosa cambia per consumatori e aziende proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.
il fatto quotidiano · about 2 months ago
Brandbrief an EU-Spitze: 40 Industriekonzerne fordern Kurswechsel bei Emissionshandel Das zentrale Klimaschutzinstrument der EU soll auf den Prüfstand. Vor der Reform bringt sich eine Reihe namhafter Konzerne in Position. In einem Brief an die EU-Spitze warnt sie vor Jobverlusten.
handelsblatt · about 2 months ago
România rămâne campioana scumpirilor în UE. Inflația se apropie de 10, arată Eurostat Biroul de statistică al Uniunii Europene anunţă, miercuri, că inflaţia în Uniunea Europeană a fost de 3,3 în mai 2026, în creştere faţă de 3,2 în aprilie. Cu un an mai devreme, inflaţia era de 2,2. România, cu o inflaţie de 9,7, se află din nou pe primul loc.
digi24 · about 2 months ago
Droits de douane : le Parlement européen impose des clauses paratonnerre aux États-Unis Laccord conclu en juillet 2025 entre Donald Trump et Ursula von der Leyen a été approuvé le 16 juin à Strasbourg moyennant lajout par les parlementaires de plusieurs garde-fous. Ce qui nempêche pas la presse européenne de sinterroger sur lavenir de la trêve douanière alors que le président américain agite la menace de nouvelles surtaxes.
courrier international · about 2 months ago
Griechenland führt Online-Preisvergleich für Alltagsgüter ein Das Angebot soll als App und als Barcode-Scanner fürs Smartphone erhältlich sein. Daten zeigen große Preisunterschiede bei alltäglichen Lebensmitteln und Konsumgütern
der standard · about 2 months ago
Eurozone: inflation continues to rise in May, hitting 3.2 per cent Eurostats final figures for May confirm the fourth consecutive across-the-board rise. However, the trend is downwards in 11 Member States. Growth continues in Italy
eunews.it · about 2 months ago
Fibre optics, digital government and skills: structural weaknesses persist in Italy The European Commissions report highlights both the positives and negatives of a national system in which progress has been made and is "significant", but where, at the same time, delays and structural limitations are far from being overcome
eunews.it · about 2 months ago
Irish parents are the least likely in the EU to think their children spend too much time on screens More than half of Irish parents claim that social media has a positive effect on their childs mental well-being.
thejournal · about 2 months ago
Denmark ranks sixth in Europe for bathing water quality Denmark ranks sixth in Europe for coastal bathing water quality, according to new figures from the European Environment Agency. More than 90 percent of the countrys coastal bathing sites were rated excellent in 2025, placing Denmark behind only Cyprus, Lithuania, Slovenia, Greece and Bulgaria. The assessment examined more than 22,000 bathing sites across the European […]
cphpost · about 2 months ago
Slovaks distrust the state, but still expect it to fund their future New study shows Slovakias prosperity problem, highlights weak institutions, poor trust and pension system under growing pressure.
spectator.sme.sk · about 2 months ago
Germany backs French push for US-style tariffs and quotas Proposal would allow European Commission to move faster in shielding industries from Chinese import glut
financial times · about 2 months ago
ESA Council appoints two new directors The European Space Agency Council has approved the appointment of two new directors: Christine Klein as Director of Controlling, Finance and Operational Procurement, and Jean-Luc Trullemans as Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs.
esa · about 2 months ago
Brussels blames national capitals and MEPs for stalling deregulation drive The European Commission says member countries and lawmakers are slowing down its mission to cut red tape.
politico.eu · about 2 months ago
EU greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2025, data shows The blocs pollution-slashing efforts have been stagnating in recent years.
politico.eu · about 2 months ago
Keine Lizenz für Kryptobörse: Binance droht Handelsverbot in der EU Die Kryptobörse Binance konnte mit der griechischen Marktaufsichtsbehörde noch keine Einigung über eine Lizenz erzielen. (Kryptowährung, Politik)
golem.de · about 2 months ago
Press release - Georgia and Türkiye: No EU accession progress without reforms MEPs warn of continued democratic backsliding in both countries and call for reforms and a stronger EU response.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP
european parlament · about 2 months ago
Press release - Enlargement: MEPs assess the progress of five Western Balkans countries On Wednesday, Parliament reviewed the EU accession progress of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP
european parlament · about 2 months ago
The European Commissions red-tape slashing mission could save the European economy billions of euros — but only if EU governments and lawmakers get out of its way.
bluesky bot · about 2 months ago
MEPs give broad backing to new EU-US trade deal MEPs have backed the EU-US trade deal, saying it is a pragmatic and necessary agreement that gives European businesses the certainty they need in uncertain times. Meeting in Strasbourg, member of the European Parliament voted in favour of the two regulations implementing the EU-US Turnberry tariff arrangement. The main proposal, adopted by 440 votes to […]
brussels morning · about 2 months ago