June 13, 2019, 3 p.m.
EU Enlargement Package 2019
Each year the Commission adopts its "Enlargement package" - a set of documents explaining its policy on EU enlargement. The present enlargement package 2019 covers on strategies and reports on Western Balkans and Turkey.
In addition to this communication, the package contains the Reports in which the Commission services present their detailed assessment of the state of play in each candidate country and potential candidate, what has been achieved over the last year, and set out guidelines on reform priorities.
Background of Enlargement Process of the Western Balkans and Turkey
Candidate countries are Montenegro (2012), Serbia (2014) and Turkey (2005), accession negotiations have been initiated. Northern Macedonia has been a candidate country since 2005 and Albania has been a candidate country since 2014. Bosnia and Herzegovina, which submitted its application for EU accession in February 2016, and Kosovo (the Stabilization and Association Agreement entered into force in April 2016) are potential candidate countries.
In order to complete the EU accession process, candidate countries must meet the specified criteria. Although EU accession is a challenging process, it is a long-term goal.
In order for the process to proceed, the candidate countries of the Union need to produce real and sustainable results rapidly on fundamental issues such as law, judicial reform, anti-corruption, security, fundamental rights, functioning democracy and public administration reform, and economy.
A policy of safe enlargement is recognized by the Council of Europe as a geostrategic investment in peace, stability, security and economic growth that concerns all over Europe. In this context, the annual enlargement report had been prepared by the Commission. The report includes the Commission's evaluation and recommendations on reforms implemented by Western Balkans and Turkey.
You can reach the related report from the following link:
2019 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy
Sources:
https://www.avrupa.info.tr/en/news/key-findings-2019-report-turkey-9579
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-2752_en.htm
https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/countries/package_en
