STORY
The European Parliament is considering annual reports on the progress made by Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia towards membership of the European Union. The assessments cover democratic institutions, the rule of law, economic reform, foreign policy alignment and each country’s ability to implement EU legislation.
Ukraine and Moldova received candidate status following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and have since begun accession negotiations. MEPs are expected to support continued progress while stressing that membership remains conditional on reforms, particularly in the justice system, anti-corruption measures and the protection of fundamental rights.
The report on Serbia is expected to focus on democratic standards, media freedom and Belgrade’s relationship with Russia as well as the normalisation of relations with Kosovo. European Parliament resolutions are not themselves sufficient to admit a new member, but they influence the political direction of the enlargement process.