EU enlargement: Costa to Zelensky: “You can count on us”. The 27 focus on reforms

Brussels – The President of the European Council, António Costa, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, appeared together before journalists, expressing words of gratitude and mutual support. “I am truly grateful for the immense support we receive from the European Council, the Commission and European leaders. True leaders, who have stood by us since the very beginning of this war. This is crucial, and we are counting on this support,” Zelenskyy said at the press briefing before the opening of the second day of the European Council. “Our message to President Zelensky is very simple: the European Union’s support for Ukraine remains as strong as ever,” Costa reiterated. “We are on your side; we will support you,” concluded von der Leyen.

Following these words of support, the discussion turns to Ukraine’s future within the European Union. “It is time for peace, not for continuing the war. Dear Volodymyr, you can count on us, not only for support during the conflict, but above all for the future within the European Union,” said Costa, addressing the Ukrainian president directly. Just this week, Kyiv took a further step on the path to accession by opening negotiations on the internal market, competitiveness, and inclusive growth clusters. 

Ukraine’s progress forms part of an enlargement strategy that the EU-27 regard as “ a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity” of the continent. In the conclusions of the first day of the summit (15 October), the leaders reaffirmed the central importance of the accession process, while emphasising, however, that preparations must proceed on two fronts: that of the candidate countries, which are called upon to continue with reforms, particularly regarding the rule of law, and that of the European Union, which must adapt its policies and functioning in anticipation of a possible change in its membership.

The guiding principle remains merit: each candidate country advances in the negotiations based on its individual progress. At the same time, Brussels is called upon to reflect on its capacity to welcome new members without compromising the effectiveness of European action. This dual requirement was also at the heart of the pre-enlargement plan presented by the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, on 6 October: a package of measures to prepare the EU’s institutions, policies and budget for a Union with new members. In the summit’s conclusions, the leaders therefore called on the Council to examine the Commission’s communication, Preparing for an Enlarged Union, and to continue work on internal reforms, the EU’s long-term priorities, and the means to achieve them.

 Among the dossiers on the table is also that of Montenegro, the country “in the final stretch” to join, for which the accession treaty is currently being drafted. The European Council welcomed the work undertaken and took note of the intention of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU to work towards the provisional closure of the remaining negotiation chapters, subject to the implementation of the reforms required of Podgorica. However, leaders are buying time, and this is where potential frustration lies for the small Balkan country, which is beginning to see its goal of becoming the 28th EU member by 2028 within reach. According to The New Union Post, the version of the conclusions adopted by the 27 member states removes the references contained in the previous draft: both the reference to the provisional closure of the remaining negotiation chapters “by the end of this year” and the commitment to “work toward finalising the draft accession treaty as soon as possible.”

 What is clear is that the stated objective of EU leaders is to prepare both sides for enlargement: the candidate countries, which are required to meet the accession criteria, and the EU, which will have to reform itself to address issues relating to its own policies and its capacity to act. A process which, in the leaders’ view, is intended to “strengthen the Union” and “enhance European sovereignty.”