Misplaced Pages

This article is part of a series on
Politics of the European Union
Member states (27)  Austria  Belgium  Bulgaria  Croatia  Cyprus  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Ireland  Italy  Latvia  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Malta  Netherlands  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden Candidate countries Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Georgia Moldova Montenegro North Macedonia Serbia Ukraine Countries with suspended accession negotiations Turkey Applicant countries Kosovo Special territories Belgium–Germany relations France–Germany relations Germany–Netherlands relations EU 3 Withdrawal from the European Union
Treaties and Declarations Schuman Declaration (1950) Treaty of Paris (1951) Europe Declaration (1951) Spaak Report (1956) Treaty of Rome (1957) Euratom Treaty (1957) Merger Treaty (1965) Solemn Declaration (1983) Single European Act (1986) Maastricht Treaty (1992) Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) Treaty of Nice (2001) Berlin Declaration (2007) Treaty of Lisbon (2007) Article 7 Article 50 Opt-outs Treaties of accession 1972, 1979, 1985, 1994, 2003, 2005, 2011 Treaties of succession 1984, 2020 Other treaties Schengen Agreement (1985) European Economic Area Agreement (1992) Abandoned treaties and agreements European Constitution (2004) UK membership renegotiation (2015–2016)
Executive institutionsEuropean Council President: Costa (PES) Parties List of meetings European Commission Von der Leyen Commission President: Von der Leyen (EPP) Vice Presidents College of Commissioners Civil Service Secretary-General: Juhansone
Legislative institutions Legislative procedure Council of the EU Presidency Hungary (July–December 2024) Configurations GAC FAC ECOFIN Eurogroup AGRIFISH EPSCO COMPET TTE ENVI JHA EYC Voting Secretariat Secretary-General: Thérèse Blanchet Directorates-general Council preparatory bodies COREPER Council Working Parties European Parliament (Members) President: Metsola Largest groups EPP (Manfred Weber) S&D (Iratxe García) Member of the European Parliament 10th session (2024–2029) Bureau Vice Presidents Quaestor Conference National parliaments
Judicial institutionsCourt of Justice of the EU European Court of Justice Members Advocates General Rulings General Court
Auditory institutionsEuropean Court of Auditors European Court of Auditors Other auditory bodies Internal Audit Service of the Commission Committee on Budgetary Control of the Parliament Economic and Financial Affairs configuration of the Council Anti-Fraud Office Public Prosecutor's Office
European Central Bank President Lagarde ESCB EMU Euro banknotes Euro coins
Other bodiesEuropean Investment Bank Group Investment Bank Investment Fund EIB Institute European Stability Mechanism European Stability Mechanism European University Institute European University Institute Unified Patent Court Unified Patent Court Agencies, decentralised independent bodies and joint undertakings Decentralised agencies of the EU Single market agencies CFSP agencies AFSC agencies ESFS European Supervisory Authorities SRM bodies Executive agencies of the EU Euratom agencies Decentralised independent bodies of the EU European Institute of Innovation and Technology European Public Prosecutor's Office Corporate bodies of the EU European Data Protection Board Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations Joint undertakings of the EU of the Euratom Other independent bodies European Data Protection Supervisor European Ombudsman Advisory bodies European Committee of the Regions European Economic and Social Committee Political and Security Committee European Union Military Committee EU/ESA Space Council Inter-institutional bodies Publications Office of the European Union European External Action Service European Personnel Selection Office Anti-Fraud Office European Administrative School
EuratomEuratom members  Austria  Belgium  Bulgaria  Croatia  Cyprus  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Ireland  Italy  Latvia  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Malta  Netherlands  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden Associated states  Switzerland  United Kingdom Nuclear power in the European Union
Economic and Monetary UnionEurozone members Austria Belgium Croatia Cyprus Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe Other currencies in use Bulgarian lev Czech koruna Danish krone Hungarian forint Polish złoty Romanian leu Swedish krona ERM II Enlargement of the eurozone Non Euro countries relationship to Euro Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Hungary Poland Sweden Romania
Schengen Area  Austria  Belgium  Bulgaria  Croatia  Czech Republic  Denmark  Estonia  Finland  France  Germany  Greece  Hungary  Italy  Latvia  Lithuania  Luxembourg  Malta  Netherlands  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Slovakia  Slovenia  Spain  Sweden Non-EU members  Iceland  Liechtenstein  Norway  Switzerland Prüm Convention Schengen Information System Visa Information System Visa policy of the Schengen Area Non-Schengen area EU member states  Cyprus  Ireland (Opt-out)
European Economic AreaEEA members Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia (provisional member) Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Non-EU members  Iceland  Liechtenstein  Norway Topics EEA Joint Committee EEA National Identity cards Microstates and the European Union
Elections Elections to the European Parliament European parties European foundations Political groups of the European Parliament Spitzenkandidat Constituencies Apportionment Referendums related to the EU European elections 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 2024 (latest election) Elections in EU member states Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden
Law Acquis Primacy (ECJ Case 6/64) Subsidiarity Regulation Directive Decision Recommendation Fundamental Rights
Policies and issues Budget Customs Union Free Trade Agreements European Single Market Area of FS&J Policies Agricultural Energy Fisheries Regional Citizenship Passports of the European Union Identity Pro-Europeanism Euroscepticism European banking union European Banking Supervision Single Resolution Mechanism Capital Markets Union European System of Financial Supervision Integration Supranationalism European Federation Multi-speed Europe Enhanced cooperation
Foreign relationsHigh Representative Kaja Kallas Ext. Action Service Foreign Policy Defence Policy Foreign relations of EU member states Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Argentina–European Union relations Armenia–European Union relations Australia–European Union relations Brazil–European Union relations Canada–European Union relations China–European Union relations European Union–NATO relations Georgia–European Union relations Iceland–European Union relations Kazakhstan–European Union relations Japan–European Union relations Mexico–European Union relations Moldova–European Union relations Norway–European Union relations Russia–European Union relations Switzerland–European Union relations Turkey–European Union relations Ukraine–European Union relations United Kingdom–European Union relations (History) Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union Brexit United States–European Union relations Common Travel Area (Ireland) Microstates and the European Union European Union and the United Nations European Union Association Agreement G7 G20
Defunct bodies European Communities (1958–1993) European Coal and Steel Community European Economic Community European Community Western European Union Convention on the Future of Europe
European Union portal Other countries
v t e

There are currently nine states recognized as candidates for membership of the European Union: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Kosovo (the independence of which is not recognised by five EU member states) formally submitted its application for membership in 2022 and is considered a potential candidate by the European Union. Due to multiple factors, talks with Turkey are at an effective standstill since December 2016.

Six candidates are currently engaged in active negotiations: Montenegro (since 2012), Serbia (since 2014), Albania (since 2020), North Macedonia (since 2020), Moldova and Ukraine (since 2024). The most advanced stage of the negotiations, defined as meeting the interim benchmarks for negotiation chapter 23 and 24 which allow the closing process of all negotiation chapters to start, has so far only been reached by Montenegro. Montenegro's declared political goal is to achieve membership of the EU by 2028.

The accession criteria are included in the Copenhagen criteria, agreed in 1993, and the Treaty of Maastricht (Article 49). Article 49 of the Maastricht Treaty (as amended) says that any "European state" that respects the "principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law", may apply to join the EU. Whether a country is European or not is subject to political assessment by the EU institutions. Past enlargement since the foundation of the European Union as the European Economic Community by the Inner Six states in 1958 brought total membership of the EU to twenty-eight, although as a result of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, the current number of EU member states is twenty-seven.

Of the four major western European countries that are not EU members, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland have submitted membership applications in the past but subsequently frozen or withdrawn them, while the United Kingdom is a former member. Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, as well as Liechtenstein, participate in the EU Single Market and also in the Schengen Area, which makes them closely aligned with the EU; none, however, are in the EU Customs Union.

Current agenda and applicants

The present enlargement agenda of the European Union regards three distinct groups of states:

• Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia
• Association Trio: Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine
• Turkey

These states must negotiate the terms of their EU accession with the current member states, and align their domestic legislation with EU law before joining.

There are other states in Europe that either seek membership or could potentially apply if their present foreign policy changes or the EU gives a signal that they might now be included on the enlargement agenda. However, these are not formally part of the current agenda, which is already delayed due to bilateral disputes in the Balkans and difficulty in fully implementing the acquis communautaire (the accepted body of EU law).

It was previously the norm for enlargements to see multiple entrants join the Union at once. The only previous enlargements of a single state were the 1981 admission of Greece and the 2013 admission of Croatia. However, the EU members have warned that, following the significant effect of the fifth enlargement in 2004, a more individual approach will be adopted in the future, although the entry of pairs or small groups of countries will most probably coincide.

Procedure to become an EU member state

For an applicant to become a member state of the EU, several procedural steps need to get passed. These steps will move the status of the state from applicant (potential candidate) to candidate, and later again to a negotiating candidate. The status as a negotiating candidate is reached by the mutual signing of a negotiation framework at a first intergovernmental conference. The start of substantial negotiations with the EU, is subsequently marked by the opening of the first negotiating chapters at a second intergovernmental conference. Every 35 chapters of the accepted body of EU law (divided into 6 clusters) must be opened and closed during subsequent additional intergovernmental conferences, for a state to conclude the negotiations by the signing of an accession treaty.

After a reform in 2020, the 35 chapters have been divided into six main clusters, where all five chapters of the first cluster are supposed to be opened together at the same time. The opening of chapters, which after the reform occur with several chapters opened together cluster-wise, can only happen by a unanimous decision by the Council of the European Union once the screening procedure report has been completed for the specific chapters (outlining all needed legislative changes to comply with EU law), while there can also be set some "opening benchmarks" requiring a certain amount of legislative changes/implementation to be met even before the opening of the chapters. The closure of a chapter, is done provisionally by a unanimous decision by the Council of the European Union once the state demonstrates to have implemented and aligned their domestic legislation with the EU law, for each specific chapter in concern.

There are no requirement for completion of the screening procedure for all 35 negotiating chapters, before the start of the first and second intergovernmental conference.

Western Balkans

The 2003 European Council summit in Thessaloniki set the integration of the Western Balkans as a priority of EU expansion.

Slovenia was the first former Yugoslav country to join the EU in 2004, followed by Croatia in 2013.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia have all been officially granted candidate status. Kosovo, which is claimed by Serbia and not recognised by 5 EU states, applied on 14 December 2022 and is considered a potential candidate by the European Union.

Serbia and Montenegro, the most advanced candidates in their negotiation processes with the EU, may join the EU sometime between 2025 and 2030. Montenegro's declared political goal is to achieve membership of the EU by 2028.

The European Council had endorsed starting negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on 26 March 2020, however, the negotiation process was blocked by Bulgaria for over two years. In June 2022 French President Emmanuel Macron submitted a compromise proposal which, if adopted by both countries, would pave the way for the immediate adoption of negotiating frameworks for North Macedonia and Albania by the EU Council and for the organization of intergovernmental conferences with them. On 24 June 2022, Bulgaria's parliament approved the revised French proposal to lift the country's veto on opening EU accession talks with North Macedonia, with the Assembly of North Macedonia also doing so on 16 July 2022 allowing accession negotiations to begin. On the same day, the start of negotiations was set for 19 July 2022.

On 8 November 2023, the European Commission adopted a new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with the aim of bringing them closer to the EU through offering some of the benefits of EU membership to the region in advance of accession. The Growth Plan provides €6 billion financial grants and loans for the entire region in return of implementation of structural reforms. Beside the core financial support of the growth plan, one of the additional embedded priority actions is granting access to the Single Euro Payments Area.

On 8 November 2023, the European Commission recommended opening negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved. On 12 March 2024, the European Commission recommended opening EU membership negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, citing the positive results from important reforms the country enacted. On 21 March 2024, all 27 EU leaders, representing the European Council, gathered for a summit in Brussels, where they unanimously approved opening EU membership negotiations for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Association Trio

In 2005, the European Commission suggested in a strategy paper that the present enlargement agenda could potentially block the possibility of a future accession of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner for Enlargement between 2004 and 2010, said on the occasion that the EU should "avoid overstretching our capacity, and instead consolidate our enlargement agenda," adding, "this is already a challenging agenda for our accession process."

Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine ratified an Association Agreement with the EU, and the European Parliament passed a resolution in 2014 stating that "in accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as any other European country, have a European perspective, can apply for EU membership in compliance with the principles of democracy, respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights, minority rights and ensuring the rule of rights." They also entered the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU, which creates "framework for modernising trade relations and for economic development by the opening of markets via the progressive removal of customs tariffs and quotas, and by an extensive harmonisation of laws, norms and regulations in various trade-related sectors, creating the conditions for aligning key sectors" of their economies with EU standards. However, the EU did not expand further into the post-Soviet space in the 2010s.

By January 2021, Georgia and Ukraine were preparing to formally apply for EU membership in 2024. However, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine submitted an application for EU membership on 28 February 2022, followed by Georgia and Moldova on 3 March 2022. On 23 June 2022, the European Council granted candidate status to Moldova and Ukraine, and recognized Georgia as a potential candidate for membership. When taking its candidacy decision for Ukraine and Moldova, the Council made opening the accession negotiations conditional to addressing respectively seven and nine key areas related to strengthening the rule of law, fighting corruption and improving governance processes.

In his speech in Moldova on 28 March 2023, President of the European Council Charles Michel mentioned that "by the end of the year, the Council will have to decide on the opening negotiations with . It will be a political decision taking into account the report that will be published by the Commission. And I sincerely hope that a positive decision will be possible by the end of the year".

On 8 November 2023, the European Commission recommended opening negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine, and granting candidate status to Georgia, and this was agreed by the European Council on 14 December 2023.

On 25 June 2024, the first Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) was called by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, officially marking the start of the accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine.

The Association Trio is sometimes expanded to the Trio + 1 with the inclusion of Armenia, which is not formally on the EU's enlargement agenda but is considering submitting an application for membership.

On 9 July 2024, following the adoption of a law by Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party requiring non-governmental and media entities to register as "foreign agents", the EU ambassador in Georgia announced that it had suspended the country's accession to the bloc. The European Union has threatened Georgia with sanctions and suspension of relations if the country becomes a "one-party state" without political opposition following parliamentary elections in October 2024. The EU later stopped financial aid.

The 2024 Georgian parliamentary elections resulted in Georgian Dream retaining power, but were disputed by opposition parties which claimed that the vote was not free and fair and was subject to widespread voter fraud. The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution which rejected the validity of the results, and called for the vote to be repeated within a year. Following this, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that accession negotiations had been suspended until 2028, though he insisted that his government would continue to implement the reforms required for accession and that it still planned for Georgia to join the EU by 2030.

Turkey

Turkey's candidacy to join the EU has been a matter of major significance and considerable controversy since it was granted in 1999. Turkey has had historically close ties with the EU, having an association agreement since 1964, being in a customs union with the EU since 1995 and initially applying to join in 1987. Only after a summit in Brussels on 17 December 2004 (following the major 2004 enlargement) did the European Council announce that membership negotiations with Turkey were officially opened on 3 October 2005.

Turkey is the eleventh largest economy in the world (measured as Purchasing Power Parity), and is a key regional power. In 2006, Carl Bildt, former Swedish foreign minister, stated that " would give the EU a decisive role for stability in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, which is clearly in the strategic interest of Europe." However, others, such as former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, expressed opposition to Turkey's membership. Opponents argue that Turkey does not respect the key principles that are expected in a liberal democracy, such as the freedom of expression.

Turkey's large population would also alter the balance of power in the representative European institutions. Upon joining the EU, Turkey's 84 million inhabitants would bestow it the largest number of MEPs in the European Parliament. It would become the most populous country in the EU. Another problem is that Turkey does not recognise one EU member state, Cyprus, because of the Cyprus problem and the Cypriot government blocks some chapters of Turkey's talks.

Turkey's relations with the EU have seriously deteriorated in the aftermath of the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt and subsequent purges. On 26 July 2016, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced that Turkey's EU membership process would come to an end if the death penalty was reinstated in Turkey. On 24 November 2016, the European Parliament approved a non-binding resolution calling for the "temporary freeze of the ongoing accession negotiations with Turkey" over human rights and rule of law concerns. On 6 July 2017, the European Parliament accepted the call for the suspension of full membership negotiations between the EU and Turkey. On 13 December, the European Council (comprising the heads of state or government of the member states) resolved that it would open no new areas in Turkey's membership talks in the "prevailing circumstances", as Turkey's path toward autocratic rule made progress on EU accession impossible. On 13 March 2019, the European Parliament accepted the call for a halt to the full membership negotiations between the EU and Turkey. On 19 May 2021, the European Parliament unanimously accepted the call for the suspension of accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey. As of 2022, and especially following Erdoğan's victory in the constitutional referendum, Turkish accession talks are effectively at a standstill.

In July 2023, Erdoğan brought up Turkey's accession to EU membership up in the context of Sweden's application for NATO membership. However, in September 2023, he announced that the European Union was well into a rupture in its relations with Turkey and that they could part ways during Turkey's European Union membership process.

Summary table

State	Status	Chapters opened	Chapters closed	Latest steps	Next step
Montenegro (accession process)	Candidate negotiating (since June 2012)	33/33 100% complete	6/33 18.2% complete	Screening completed for all negotiating chapters in June 2013. First chapters opened in December 2012.	Every chapter must be closed to conclude the negotiations.
Serbia (accession process)	Candidate negotiating (since January 2014)	22/34 64.7% complete	2/34 5.9% complete	Screening completed for all negotiating chapters in March 2015. First chapters opened in December 2015.	Every chapter must be opened and closed to conclude the negotiations. Benchmarks have been met for the opening of all remaining chapters in cluster 3, but this has been postponed due the opening being conditional on "substantial further progress made by Serbia, in particular in accordance with...the rule of law (chapter 23+24) and the normalisation of relations with Kosovo".
Albania (accession process)	Candidate negotiating (since July 2022)	7/33 21.2% complete	0/33 0% complete	Screening completed for all negotiating chapters in November 2023. First chapters opened in October 2024.	Every chapter must be opened and closed to conclude the negotiations.
North Macedonia (accession process)	Candidate negotiating (since July 2022)	0/33 0% complete	0/33 0% complete	Screening completed for all negotiating chapters in December 2023.	The opening of the first 5 negotiating chapters (Fundamentals cluster) at a second intergovernmental conference will not begin until the opening phase has been completed, which according to the Council conclusions of July 2022 is conditional on the Assembly of North Macedonia approving a constitutional amendment related to the Bulgarian minority.
Moldova (accession process) (relations)	Candidate negotiating (since June 2024)	0/33 0% complete	0/33 0% complete	Screening of negotiation chapters (the explanatory phase) began in January 2024, and the bilateral phase of the screening started in July 2024.	The opening of the first 5 negotiating chapters (Fundamentals cluster) at a second intergovernmental conference. Every chapter must be opened and closed to conclude the negotiations.
Ukraine (accession process) (relations)	Candidate negotiating (since June 2024)	0/33 0% complete	0/33 0% complete	Screening of negotiation chapters (the explanatory phase) began in January 2024, and the bilateral phase of the screening started in July 2024.	The opening of the first 5 negotiating chapters (Fundamentals cluster) at a second intergovernmental conference. Every chapter must be opened and closed to conclude the negotiations.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (accession process)	Candidate (since December 2022)	—	—	The European Council granted conditional approval for the opening of accession negotiations in March 2024. Screening of negotiation chapters (the explanatory phase) began in April 2024.	The European Commission needs to prepare a negotiating framework for adoption by the Council, once all relevant steps set out in the Commission's recommendation of 12 October 2022 have been taken by Bosnia and Herzegovina. The state claimed to meet 98% of conditions demanded by the European Commission by passing a 2024 budget and Growth Plan reform package in July 2024. Final approval of the Growth Plan reform package was however blocked by four cantons on 25 July. As of December 2024, the Council reminded they still needed to receive an approved Growth Plan reform package along with a national programme for adoption of EU law, and that the country should appoint a chief negotiator and a national IPA III coordinator, before the adoption of a negotiation framework can happen as the next step of the process.
Georgia (accession process) (relations)	Candidate (since December 2023)	—	—	The European Council granted candidate status in December 2023. The Georgian government suspended its EU membership application process until the end of 2028.	The European Commission needs to recommend starting negotiations.
Kosovo (accession process)	Applicant / Potential candidate	—	—	Application for membership submitted in December 2022.	The Council needs to by unanimous decision request the European Commission to submit an opinion.
Turkey (accession process) (relations)	Candidate with frozen negotiations (opened in October 2005, but frozen since December 2016)	16/33 48.5% complete	1/33 3% complete	Screening completed for all negotiating chapters in October 2006. First chapters opened in June 2006. Chapter opening frozen in December 2016, due to backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights. Chapter closing dialogue frozen since June 2018.	Negotiations frozen, with no further chapters being considered for opening or closing, which has been reconfirmed by the Council each year since 2018.

Timeline

Major events	Association Agreement (with link)	Membership application	Candidate status	Negotiations start (1st IGC)	Substantial negotiations start (2nd IGC)	Accession Treaty signed
Turkey	1 Dec 1964 (AA)	14 Apr 1987	12 Dec 1999	3 Oct 2005	12 Jun 2006	(tbd)
Montenegro	1 May 2010 (SAA)	15 Dec 2008	17 Dec 2010	29 Jun 2012	18 Dec 2012	(tbd)
Serbia	1 Sep 2013 (SAA)	22 Dec 2009	1 Mar 2012	21 Jan 2014	14 Dec 2015	(tbd)
Albania	1 Apr 2009 (SAA)	28 Apr 2009	27 Jun 2014	19 Jul 2022	15 Oct 2024	(tbd)
North Macedonia	1 Apr 2004 (SAA)	22 Mar 2004	17 Dec 2005	19 Jul 2022	(tbd)	(tbd)
Moldova	1 Jul 2016 (AA)	3 Mar 2022	23 Jun 2022	25 Jun 2024	(tbd)	(tbd)
Ukraine	1 Sep 2017 (AA)	28 Feb 2022	23 Jun 2022	25 Jun 2024	(tbd)	(tbd)
Bosnia and Herzegovina	1 Jun 2015 (SAA)	15 Feb 2016	15 Dec 2022	(tbd)	(tbd)	(tbd)
Georgia	1 Jul 2016 (AA)	3 Mar 2022	14 Dec 2023	(tbd)	(tbd)	(tbd)
Kosovo	1 Apr 2016 (SAA)	14 Dec 2022	(tbd)	(tbd)	(tbd)	(tbd)

Level of preparation for acquis chapters

Current situation

The table below shows the level of preparation of applicant countries with EU standards (acquis communautaire) on a 5-point scale, using data from the European Commission's 2024 reports. The analysis is based on the analysis performed by the online media outlet European Pravda for Ukraine; scores for other countries, as well as additional sections (public administration reform and economic criteria) were added based on official data from the European Commission's reports.

Progress over the past year

The table below shows the progress over the past year of applicant countries on a 4-point scale, using data from the European Commission's 2024 reports. The analysis is based on the analysis performed by the online media outlet European Pravda for Ukraine; scores for other countries, as well as additional sections (public administration reform and economic criteria) were added based on official data from the European Commission's reports.

States not on the agenda

The Maastricht Treaty (Article 49) states that any European country (as defined by a European Council assessment) that is committed to democracy may apply for membership in the European Union. In addition to European states, other countries have also been speculated or proposed as future members of the EU.

States in Europe that have chosen, for various reasons, not to join the EU have integrated with it to different extents according to their circumstances. Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein participate directly in the single market via the EEA, Switzerland does so via bilateral treaties and the other European microstates (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City) have specific agreements with the EU and neighbouring countries, including their use of the euro as their currency. Most of these countries are also part of the Schengen Area. Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland have all previously had live applications to join the EU, which have been withdrawn or otherwise frozen. Such applications could be resubmitted in the event of a change in the political landscape.

On 5 March 2024, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said that his country would apply for EU candidacy by autumn 2024 at the latest. On 12 March 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution confirming Armenia met Maastricht Treaty Article 49 requirements and that the country may apply for EU membership. At the 2024 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Pashinyan stated that he would like Armenia to become a member of the European Union "this year."

Armenia
	Main article:	Armenia–European Union relations
	Relationship:	Armenia–EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.
	Main obstacles:	Membership of competing Eurasian Economic Union, security dependency on Russia.
	Proponents:	Armenian National Movement Party, Bright Armenia, Civil Contract, European Party of Armenia, For The Republic Party, Free Democrats, Heritage, People's Party of Armenia, Republic Party, Rule of Law, Sovereign Armenia Party, Union for National Self-Determination
	Opponents:	Prosperous Armenia, Republican Party of Armenia
	Public opinion:	58% in favour, 13% against (2024 poll)
Belarus
	Main article:	Belarus–European Union relations
	Relationship:	Participation in the Eastern Partnership (suspended on 28 June 2021). As of 2020 the European Union does not recognise Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.
	Main obstacles:	Alexander Lukashenko's authoritarian rule, Eurosceptic government, Russian political influence, Union State (integration with Russia).
	Proponents:	Belarusian Christian Democracy, BPF Party, United Democratic Forces of Belarus, Belarusian Liberal Party of Freedom and Progress, United Civic Party of Belarus, Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Assembly), Belarusian Social Democratic Assembly
	Opponents:	Russian government, Alexander Lukashenko, Belaya Rus
	Public opinion:	42.1% in favour (2013 poll with several options)
Iceland
	Main article:	Iceland–European Union relations
	Relationship:	Member of the European Economic Area and Schengen Area, frozen membership application.
	Main obstacles:	Common Fisheries Policy and others.
	Proponents:	Social Democratic Alliance, Liberal Reform Party
	Opponents:	Independence Party, Progressive Party, Left-Green Movement, People's Party, Centre Party
	Public opinion:	47% in favour, 33% against (2022 poll).
Norway
	Main article:	Norway–European Union relations
	Relationship:	Member of the European Economic Area and Schengen Area, frozen application, but not withdrawn.
	Main obstacles:	Common Fisheries Policy and others, public opinion.
	Proponents:	Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Party, Green Party
	Opponents:	Progress Party, Centre Party, Red Party, Socialist Left Party
	Public opinion:	26% in favour, 53% against (2022 poll).
Russia
	Main article:	Russia–European Union relations
	Relationship:
	Main obstacles:	Vladimir Putin's authoritarian rule, Eurosceptic government, and occupation of territories within Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
	Proponents:	Yabloko, Democratic Party of Russia, 5th of December Party, Green Alternative
	Opponents:	Vladimir Putin, United Russia, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, For Truth, National Patriotic Forces of Russia
	Public opinion:	38% in favour, 40% against (2013 poll).
San Marino
	Main article:	San Marino–European Union relations (Microstates and the European Union)
	Relationship:	Bilateral treaties, open border, customs union, and euro adoption.
	Main obstacles:	Small size.
	Proponents:	United Left, Future Republic, Libera San Marino, Party of Socialists and Democrats, Socialist Party, For San Marino
	Opponents:	Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party, Sammarinese Social Right Movement
	Public opinion:	A referendum in 2013 on applying for EU membership resulted in 50.3% approving, but it failed due to insufficient turnout.
Switzerland
	Main article:	Switzerland–European Union relations
	Relationship:	Bilateral treaties allowing participation in the European Single Market, member of the Schengen Area, withdrawn membership application.
	Main obstacles:	Swiss public opinion and direct democracy.
	Proponents:	Green Party, Social Democratic Party, Green Liberal Party, Volt Switzerland
	Opponents:	Swiss People's Party, Evangelical People's Party, Ticino League, Federal Democratic Union, Swiss Party of Labour, Solidarity, Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland
	Public opinion:	A Swiss referendum on restarting EU membership negotiations in 2001 was defeated by 76.8%.
United Kingdom
	Main article:	United Kingdom–European Union relations
	Relationship:	Withdrawal agreement, EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, past membership.
	Main obstacles:	January 2020 withdrawal.
	Proponents:	Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Scottish National Party
	Opponents:	Keir Starmer, Conservative Party, Reform UK
	Public opinion:	Main article: Potential re-accession of the United Kingdom to the European Union 51% in favour of rejoining, 35% against, 12% neither/ don't know (23-25 May 2024, Deltapoll).

Other proposals

• Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Vatican City are European microstates that are not on the agenda of the EU to be members, nor their own. (See: Microstates and the European Union)
• Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are transcontinental states with some territory in Europe. These countries are not on the agenda of the EU to be members, nor their own. (See: Azerbaijan–European Union relations and Kazakhstan–European Union relations)
• Canada is a non-European country with values, culture, trade, and politics closely linked with the EU. Its membership has been proposed due to this. (See: Canada–European Union relations)
• Cape Verde and Israel are non-European countries with close historical and political relations with the EU. (See: Cape Verde–European Union relations and Israel–European Union relations)
• The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a sovereign entity without territory that has extraterritorial headquarters in Palazzo Malta and Villa Malta, as well as observer status in the United Nations and the Council of Europe. (See: Sovereign Military Order of Malta–European Union relations)
• Scotland is a country of the United Kingdom that was part of the European Union as a result of the UK's membership, until the latter withdrew from the EU. The Scottish National Party, which leads Scotland's devolved government, supports Scotland joining the EU as an independent state.

Internal enlargement scenarios

Internal enlargement is the process of new member states arising from the break-up of an existing member state. There have been and are a number of active separatist movements within member states (for example in Catalonia and Flanders) but there are no clear agreements, treaties or precedents covering the scenario of an existing EU member state breaking into two or more states, both of which wish to remain EU member states. The question is whether one state is a successor and one a new applicant or, alternatively, both are new states which must be admitted to the EU.

In some cases, a region desires to leave its state and the EU, namely those regions wishing to join Switzerland. But most, namely the two movements that held referendums during the 2010s, Scotland and Catalonia, see their future as independent states within the EU. This results in great interest in whether, once independent, they would retain EU membership or conversely whether they would have to re-apply. In the later case, since new members must be approved unanimously, any other state which has an interest in blocking their membership to deter similar independence movements could do so. Additionally, it is unclear whether the successor state would retain any opt-outs that the parent state was entitled to.

Opinions on membership

• European Commission
  • Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission (2014-2019): "If there were to be a 'yes' vote in favour of Catalan independence, then we will respect that opinion. But Catalonia will not be able to be an EU member state on the day after such a vote." This was repeated in October in an official press release: "We reiterate the legal position held by this Commission as well as by its predecessors. If a referendum were to be organised in line with the Spanish Constitution it would mean that the territory leaving would find itself outside of the European Union."
  • José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission (2004-2014), stated in 2012 in the context of the 2014 referendum for independence in Scotland, that any newly independent country would have to apply for membership and negotiate its terms, but that the rest of the original country would not have to re-negotiate its position and would continue its membership. In 2014 he said that it would have been 'very difficult' for an independent Scotland to join the EU, 'if not impossible', because of the difficulty of getting the approval of all member states, particularly Spain, which fears a possible secession of Catalonia and has blocked Kosovo's accession to the EU.
  • Joaquín Almunia (Spanish, being at the time an EU Commissioner) in 2013 claimed that Catalonia would have to apply for EU membership in the event of secession from Spain.
• Government of Spain
  • Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, said in November 2013 that an independent Scotland's entry to the EU would require the consent of all existing members and that an independent Scotland or other regions gaining independence, taken as a reference to Catalonia, would end up outside of the EU.
  • Spanish Foreign Minister José García-Margallo, having said in February 2012 that Spain would not veto Scottish accession to the EU, provided Scottish independence had UK agreement (thus making it different from Catalan independence).

Basque Country

The presence of a strong Basque Nationalist movement, strongly majoritary in several territories of the Basque Country, makes possible the future existence of an independent Basque Country under different potential territorial configurations. In overall terms the Basque nationalism is pro-European.

Catalonia

On 1 October 2017, the Catalan government held a referendum on independence, which had been declared illegal by the Constitutional Court of Spain, with potential polling stations being cordoned off by riot police. The subsequent events constituted a political crisis for Catalonia. The EU's position is to keep distance from the crisis while supporting Spain's territorial integrity and constitution. While the debate around Scotland's referendum may inform the Catalan crisis, Catalonia is in a distinct situation from Scotland whereby the central government does not recognise the legitimacy of any independence declaration from Catalonia. If Spain does not recognise the independence of a Catalan state, Catalonia cannot separately join the EU and it is still recognised as part of Spain's EU membership.

Corsica

Corsica has a strong and electorally successful nationalist movement, with positions ranging from autonomy to outright independence, the latter option with around 10–15% public support. The independist party Corsica Libera envisions an independent Corsica within the European Union as a union of various European peoples, as well as recommendations for alignment within European directives.

Flanders

There is an active movement towards Flemish independence or union with the Netherlands. The future status of Wallonia and Brussels (the de facto capital of the EU) are unclear as viable political states, perhaps producing a unique situation from Scotland and Catalonia. There are various proposals, both within and outside the independentist movement, for what should happen to Brussels, ranging from staying part of the Belgian rump state, to joining the hypothetical Flemish state, to becoming a separate political entity.

Sardinia

Sardinia has a strong and electorally successful nationalist movement, with positions ranging from autonomy to outright independence. Generally associated with left-wing politics, the Sardinian movement is largely pro-European and pro-environmentalism.

According to a 2012 survey conducted in a joint effort between the University of Cagliari and that of Edinburgh, 41% of Sardinians would be in favour of independence (with 10% choosing it from both Italy and the European Union, and 31% only from Italy with Sardinia remaining in the EU), whilst another 46% would rather have a larger autonomy within Italy and the EU, including fiscal power; 12% of people would be content to remain part of Italy and the EU with a Regional Council without any fiscal powers, and 1% in Italy and the EU without a Regional Council and fiscal powers. A 2017 poll by the Ixè Institute found that 51% of those questioned identified as Sardinian (as opposed to an Italian average of 15% identifying by their region of origin), rather than Italian (19%), European (11%) and/or citizen of the world (19%).

Sardinian nationalists address a number of issues, such as the environmental damage caused by the military forces (about 60% of such bases in Italy are located on the island), the financial and economic exploitation of the island's resources by the Italian state and mainland industrialists, the lack of any political representation both in Italy and in the European Parliament (due to an unbalanced electoral constituency that still remains to this day, Sardinia has not had its own MEP since 1994), the nuclear power and waste (on which a referendum was proposed by a Sardist party, being held in 2011) and the ongoing process of depopulation and Italianization that would destroy the Sardinian indigenous culture.

Veneto

Similarly to Sardinia, Veneto has a strong and electorally successful nationalist movement, with positions ranging from autonomy to outright independence. In a controversial online poll held in 2014, 89% of participants were in favour of Veneto becoming "a federal, independent and sovereign state" and 55% supported accession to European Union membership. Three years later, in the 2017 autonomy referendum, with a 58% turnout, 98% of the participants voted in favour of "further forms and special conditions of autonomy to be attributed to the Region of Veneto". Consequently, negotiations between the Venetian government and the Italian one started.

The longstanding and largest Venetist party, Liga Veneta (LV), was established in 1979 under the slogan "farther from Rome, closer to Europe", but has later adopted more Eurosceptic positions. Luca Zaia, a LV member who has served as president of Veneto since 2010, usually self-describes as a pro-Europeanist and has long advocated for a "Europe of regions" and "macro-regions".

Member state expansion scenarios

Cyprus

Officially, the island nation of Cyprus is part of the European Union, under the de jure sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and thus of the European Union, and were entitled to vote in the 2004 European Parliament election (though only a few hundred registered). The EU's acquis communautaire is suspended indefinitely in the northern third of the island, which has remained outside the control of the Republic of Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974. The Greek Cypriot community rejected the Annan Plan for the settlement of the Cyprus dispute in a referendum on 24 April 2004. Had the referendum been in favour of the settlement proposal, the island (excluding the British Sovereign Base Areas) would have joined the European Union as the United Cyprus Republic. The European Union's relations with the Turkish Cypriot Community are handled by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement.

Ireland

The European Council has recognised that following the UK withdrawal from the EU, if Northern Ireland were to be incorporated into a united Ireland it would automatically rejoin the EU under the current Irish membership. A historical precedent for this was the incorporation of East Germany into the Federal Republic of Germany as a single European Communities member state.

Romania

Opinion polls in both Moldova and Romania show significant support for the unification of the two countries, based on their reciprocal historical and cultural ties. Such a scenario would result in Moldova becoming part of an enlarged Romania and therefore receiving the benefits and obligations of the latter's EU membership. An obstacle would be the existence of the breakaway Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria), which is considered by Moldova and most of the international community to be de jure part of Moldova's sovereign territory but is de facto independent. Transnistria's absence of strong historical or cultural links to Romania and its close political and military relationship with Russia have been seen as major hurdles to integration of the region with both Romania and the EU. Another likely barrier from within Moldova would be opposition on the part of the autonomous territory of Gagauzia, whose population has been mostly against integration with Romania since at least the 1990s. A 2014 referendum held by the Gagauzian government showed both overwhelming support for the region joining the Customs Union of the Eurasian Economic Union and a similar level of rejection to closer ties with the EU.

Possible incorporation of special member state territories

There are multiple special member state territories, some of which are not fully covered by the EU treaties and apply EU law only partially, if at all. It is possible for a dependency to change its status regarding the EU or some particular treaty or law provision. The territory may change its status from participation to leaving or from being outside to joining.

Danish self-governing territories

Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands, a self-governing nation within the Kingdom of Denmark, is not part of the EU, as explicitly asserted by both Rome treaties. The relations with the EU are governed by a Fisheries Agreement (1977) and a Free Trade Agreement (1991, revised 1998). The main reason for remaining outside the EU is disagreements about the Common Fisheries Policy, which disfavours countries with large fish resources. Also, every member has to pay for the Common Agricultural Policy, which favours countries having much agriculture which the Faroe Islands does not. When Iceland was in membership negotiations around 2010, there was a hope of better conditions for fish-rich countries, but to no avail. The Common Fisheries Policy was introduced in 1970 for the very reason of getting access for the first EC members to waters of candidate countries, namely the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Denmark including the Faroe Islands.

Nevertheless, there are politicians, mainly in the right-wing Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin), led by their chairman Kaj Leo Johannesen, who would like to see the Faroes as a member of the EU. However, the chairman of the left-wing Republic (Tjóðveldi), Høgni Hoydal, has expressed concerns that if the Faroes were to join the EU as is, they might vanish inside the EU, comparing this with the situation of the Shetland Islands and Åland today, and wants the local government to solve the political situation between the Faroes and Denmark first.

Greenland

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and became part of the EEC (the predecessor entity of the EU) when Denmark joined in 1973. After the establishment of Greenland's home rule in 1979, which made it an autonomous community, Greenland held a referendum on EEC membership. The result was (mainly because of the Common Fisheries Policy) to leave, so on 1 February 1985, Greenland left the EEC and EURATOM. Its status was changed to that of an Overseas Country. Danish nationals residing in Greenland (i.e. all native population) are nonetheless fully European citizens; they are not, however, entitled to vote in European elections.

There has been some speculation as to whether Greenland may consider rejoining the now-European Union. On 4 January 2007, the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten quoted the former Danish minister for Greenland, Tom Høyem, as saying "I would not be surprised if Greenland again becomes a member of the EU... The EU needs the Arctic window and Greenland cannot alone manage the gigantic Arctic possibilities". Greenland has a lot of natural resources, and Greenland has, especially during the 2000s commodities boom, contracted foreign private companies to exploit some of them, but the cost is considered too high, as Greenland is remote and severely lacks infrastructure which has to be built. After 2013 prices declined so such efforts stalled.

The Brexit debate has reignited talk about the EU in Greenland with calls for the island to join the Union again.

Dutch Caribbean territories

The islands of Aruba and Curaçao, as well as Sint Maarten, are constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are special Dutch municipalities. All are Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) under Annex II of the EC treaty. OCTs are considered to be "associated" with the EU and apply some portions of EU law. The islands are opting to become an Outermost Region (OMR) of the EU, a status in which the islands form a part of the European Union, though they benefit from derogations (exceptions) from some EU laws due to their geographical remoteness from mainland Europe. The islands are focusing on gaining the same status as the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the French overseas departments.

When Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba were established as Dutch public bodies after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles (which was an OCT) in 2010, their status within the EU was raised. Rather than change their status from an OCT to an outermost region, as their change in status within the Netherlands would imply, it was decided that their status would remain the same for at least five years. After those five years, their status would be reviewed.

If it was decided that if one or all of the islands wish to integrate more with the EU then the Treaty of Lisbon provides for that following a unanimous decision from the European Council. Former European Commissioner for Enlargement Danuta Hübner has said before the European Parliament that she does not expect many problems to occur with such a status change, as the population of the islands is only a few thousand people.

French overseas departments and collectivities

The territories of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion are overseas departments of France and at the same time mono-departmental overseas regions. According to the EC treaty (article 299 2), all of these departments are outermost regions (OMR) of the EU—hence provisions of the EC treaty apply there while derogations are allowed. The status of the Overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin is also defined as OMR by the Treaty of Lisbon. New Caledonia and the overseas collectivities of French Polynesia, Saint-Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Wallis and Futuna are Overseas Countries and Territories of the EU.

New Caledonia

New Caledonia is an overseas part of France with its own unique status under the French Constitution, which is distinct from that of overseas departments and collectivities. It is defined as an "overseas country of France" under the 1998 Nouméa Accord, and enjoys a high degree of self-government. Currently, in regard to the EU, it is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT).

As a result of the Nouméa Accord, New Caledonians voted in three consecutive independence referendums in 2018, 2020, and 2021. The referendums were to determine whether the territory would remain a part of the French Republic as a "sui generis collectivity", or whether it would become an independent state. The accords also specify a gradual devolution of powers to the local New Caledonian assembly. The results of all three referendums determined that New Caledonia would remain a part of the French Republic.

See also

• Eastern Partnership
• Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
• European integration
• EU Strategy for the South Caucasus
• Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, a funding mechanism for EU candidate countries
• Politics of Europe
• Referendums related to the European Union
• Treaty of Accession 1994
• Treaty of Accession 2003
• Treaty of Accession 2005
• Treaty of Accession 2011
• Withdrawal from the European Union

Notes

1. Bulgaria demanded: "good neighbourly relations to be a criterion for the Republic of North Macedonia's membership in the EU; to use the official constitutional name of the Republic of North Macedonia instead of the short North Macedonia and the wording for the language should be the "official language" of the candidate country, not Macedonian."

References

1. "Joining the EU". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
2. ^ Emmott, Robin (2 May 2017). "Turkey's EU dream is over, for now, top official says". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
3. Council of the European Union (26 June 2024). "Sixteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at Ministerial level (press release by the Council of the EU)". Consilium. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
4. ^ Tatiana Marinova; Simona-Alex Mihaleva (17 June 2024). "President Radev: Bulgaria Supports Montenegro's European Integration". BTA. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
5. ^ Milojko Spajić (16 December 2024). "Press conference - Part 2 - Preliminary remarks by Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro, during the press conference following the EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference on 16 December 2024 in Brussels" (video). Consilium. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
6. "Legal questions of enlargement". The European Parliament. 19 May 1998. Archived from the original on 21 March 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
7. Current Article 1 of the Treaty on European Union reads: "The Union shall be founded on the present Treaty and on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Those two Treaties shall have the same legal value. The Union shall replace and succeed the European Community".
8. "European Union, Community Law And International Business Law" (PDF). European Center for Peace and Development. p. 46. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
9. ^ Alexandra Brzozowski (31 January 2024). "EU Commission to start screening process for Ukraine, Moldova after 'surprise' delay". Euractiv. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
10. "After Years Of Delay, North Macedonia, Albania Get OK To Begin EU Accession Talks". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
11. ^ "'Huge, historic move': EU grants Bosnia and Herzegovina Candidate Status". Sarajevo Times. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
12. "Kosovo to apply for EU membership by end of 2022". euractiv.com. 10 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
13. ^ Xhabafti, Erion; Semini, Llazar (14 December 2022). "Kosovo leaders sign application request to join EU". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
14. "EU advances membership talks for Montenegro, Serbia". Euractiv. 11 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
15. Jozwiak, Rikard (5 February 2018). "Serbia, Montenegro 'Could Potentially' Join EU In 2025". RadioFreeEurope. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
16. "EU must be ready to accept new members by 2030". euronews. 28 August 2023.
17. Staff (27 March 2020). "EU leaders give final OK to begin Albania, North Macedonia accession talks". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
18. ^ "Bulgaria Blocks North Macedonia's EU Accession Negotiations - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". novinite.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
19. "Macron Says Compromise Found On EU Membership Talks For North Macedonia". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
20. "North Macedonia parliament OKs deal; EU talks start July 19". Associated Press. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
21. "New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans". European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
22. ^ "Commission adopts 2023 Enlargement package, recommends to open negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, to grant candidate status to Georgia and to open accession negotiations with BiH, once the necessary degree of compliance is achieved". europa.eu. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
23. Sito-sucic, Daria (12 March 2024). "European Commission recommends opening EU membership talks with Bosnia". Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
24. ^ Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (12 March 2024). "Commission proposes to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and updates on progress made by Ukraine and Moldova". European Commission. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
25. "Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the preparation of the European Council meeting of 21-22 March 2024". 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
26. Jones, Mared Gwyn (21 March 2024). "European Union leaders approve opening accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina". EuroNews. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
27. Petrequin, Samuel (21 March 2024). "EU leaders agree on opening membership talks with Bosnia, but with many strings attached". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
28. "2005 enlargement strategy paper". European Union. 9 November 2005. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
29. "EU enlargement chief vows to press ahead, for 'stability'". International Herald Tribune. 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
30. "Georgia can apply for EU membership if it complies with democratic principles". en.trend.az. 18 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
31. < EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. trade.ec.europa.eu.
32. Rettman, Andrew (22 October 2010). "EU unlikely to expand into post-Soviet east in next decade". Euobserver.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
33. "У 2024 році Україна подасть заявку на вступ до ЄС". ukrinform.ua. 29 January 2019. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
34. Makszimov, Vlagyiszlav (22 January 2021). "Georgian president visits Brussels in push for 2024 EU membership application". euractiv.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
35. "Georgia-EU Relations Within Georgia's 2024 Objective to Apply for the EU Membership". georgianjournal.ge (in Georgian). Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
36. "Georgia, Moldova Formally Apply For EU Membership Amid Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty.
37. "Moldovan president says Moldova applies for EU membership | Law-Order". devdiscourse.com.
38. ^ "European Council conclusions, 23-24 June 2022". European Council. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
39. "EC to decide on opening negotiations over EU accession of Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia by year-end - Charles Michel | Rustavi2". rustavi2.ge. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
40. ^ "European Council conclusions on Ukraine, enlargement and reforms". European Council. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
41. ^ Brzozowski, Alexandra (14 June 2024). "BREAKING: EU member states greenlight Ukraine, Moldova negotiating frameworks". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
42. "EU announces Georgia's accession is 'stopped' after anti-West pivot". POLITICO. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
43. "EU halts Georgia's accession to the bloc, freezes financial aid over much-criticized law". AP News. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
44. "EU says Georgia may risk sanctions if it abandons democracy". Reuters. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
45. "Georgia to suspend EU accession talks until 2028". Al Jazeera Media Network. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
46. ^ Lucy Davalou; Andrew Naughtie (28 November 2024). "Georgian prime minister suspends EU membership talks until end of 2028". euronews. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
47. Thomas Mackintosh (29 November 2024). "Protesters clash with police after Georgia shelves EU bid". BBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
48. Official Journal of the European Communities 1973, C113 p2
49. Bhalla, Reva; Goodrich, Lauren; Zeihan, Peter (17 March 2009). "Turkey and Russia on the Rise". Stratfor. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011.
50. Friedman, George (31 July 2007). "The Geopolitics of Turkey". Stratfor. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009.
51. Ekman, Ivar (11 December 2006). "Top Swedish official backs Turkey for EU". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
52. "BBC: EU hails Turkey free speech move". BBC News. 30 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
53. "The ins and outs: The EU's most effective foreign-policy instrument has been enlargement. But how far can it go?". The Economist. 17 March 2007. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
54. ^ "Turkey's bid to join the EU is a bad joke; but don't kill it". The Economist. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
55. ^ "EU-Turkey Relations Reaching a Crossroads". carnegieeurope.eu. 11 April 2017. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
56. "AB'den Türkiye'ye: İdam cezası geri gelirse..." Hürriyet (in Turkish). 26 July 2016.
57. "P8_TA(2016)0450". European Parliament. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
58. "Freeze EU accession talks with Turkey until it halts repression, urge MEPs". European Parliament. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
59. Weise, Zia (24 November 2016). "EU parliament votes overwhelmingly in favour of scrapping Turkey accession talks". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
60. "AP: Türkiye ile müzakereler askıya alınsın". DW Türkçe (in Turkish). 6 July 2017.
61. ^ Kempf, Danny (13 December 2016). "EU says won't expand Turkey membership talks". yahoo.com. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
62. Pierini, Marc (12 December 2016). "Turkey's Impending Estrangement From the West". Carnegie Europe. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
63. "European Parliament calls for suspension of Turkey EU accession talks". Euronews. 13 March 2019.
64. "EU-Turkey relations are at a historic low point, say MEPs". European Parliament. 19 May 2021.
65. ""Turkey is no longer an EU candidate", MEP says". Euronews. 10 April 2017. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
66. Gonen, Emre (2 May 2017). "A truce with the EU?". Daily Sabah - Euronews. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
67. Huseyin Hayatsever, Ece Toksabay (10 July 2023). "Erdogan links Sweden's NATO membership to Turkey's EU accession". Reuters. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
68. "Turkey could part ways with EU if necessary, Erdogan says". Reuters. 16 September 2023.
69. "EU enlargement". European Union. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
70. ^ "Enlargement: Montenegro". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
71. "Montenegro Report 2022". European Commission.
72. ^ "Press release – Marking the start of substantial negotiations with Montenegro". CY2012. Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
73. ^ "Enlargement: Serbia". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
74. "Serbia Report 2022". European Commission.
75. ^ "EU opens first chapters in accession negotiations with Serbia". European Western Balkans. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
76. ^ "Council conclusions on Enlargement (16983/24)" (PDF). Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
77. ^ Gijs, Camille (19 July 2022). "EU launches accession talks with North Macedonia, Albania". politico.eu. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
78. ^ "Enlargement: Albania". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
79. "Albania's EU membership process". European Movement Albania. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
80. ^ "Second Accession Conference with Albania, 15 October 2024". Consilium. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
81. ^ "Enlargement: North Macedonia". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
82. Aleksandar Samardjiev (11 August 2022). "North Macedonia: EU membership remains a never-ending challenge". Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
83. ^ "Council conclusions on Enlargement (16707/23)" (PDF). Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
84. "Accession Conference with Moldova, 25 June 2024". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
85. ^ "Enlargement: Moldova". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
86. "Intergovernmental conference with Moldova: press conference". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
87. "Accession Conference with Ukraine, 25 June 2024". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
88. ^ "Enlargement: Ukraine". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
89. "Intergovernmental conference with Ukraine: press conference". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
90. ^ "Enlargement: Bosnia and Herzegovina". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
91. Noestlinger, Nette; Sito-sucic, Daria; Gray, Andrew (21 March 2024). "EU leaders invite Bosnia to membership talks in historic step". Reuters. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
92. "Parliamentary question - E-001049/2024(ASW): Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission". European Parliament. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
93. ^ "European Council meeting (21 and 22 March 2024) – Conclusions" (PDF). General Secretariat of the Council. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
94. "Bosnia adopts 2024 Budget after months of delay". N1 Sarajevo. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
95. "BiH Institutions should receive the Budget by the end of the Week". Sarajevo Times. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
96. "Bosnia's House of People approves 2024 budget and amended law on judicial body". DTT-net. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
97. "Forto accuses SDA of blocking EU Growth Plan projects for political reasons". N1 Sarajevo. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
98. "Enlargement: Georgia". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
99. ^ "Turkey 2006 Progress Report" (PDF). European Commission. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
100. ^ "Enlargement: Türkiye". Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
101. ^ "Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association process - Council conclusions (10555/18)" (PDF). Consilium. General Secretariat of the Council. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
102. "Turkey Report 2021" (PDF). European Commission.
103. "AP raporu: Türkiye'nin AB üyelik süreci mevcut koşullarda devam edemez" (in Turkish). Gazete Duvar. 18 July 2023.
104. "Turkey Report 2023" (PDF). European Commission. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
105. ^ "Turkey 2005 Progress Report" (PDF). European Commission. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
106. ^ "Turkey-EU relations: Accession-process (current situation)". Turkey European Union Association (TURABDER). 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
107. ^ "Montenegro is officially awarded EU candidate status". euobserver.com. 17 December 2010. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
108. ^ "Serbia starts negotiations to join EU". b92.net. 21 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
109. ^ "EU candidate status for Albania". European Commission. 23 June 2014. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
110. ^ "European Council - 26/27 June 2014 - Conclusions" (PDF). European Council. 27 June 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
111. ^ Tanas, Alexander (3 March 2022). "With war on its doorstep, Moldova applies for EU membership". Reuters. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
112. ^ "EU opens accession negotiations with Moldova". European Union. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
113. ^ "Zelensky signs application for Ukraine's membership to EU". Hindustan Times. Associated Press. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
114. ^ "EU opens accession negotiations with Ukraine". European Union. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
115. ^ "SAA Agreement with Bosnia". Council of the European Union. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
116. ^ "Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership today". The Netherlands EU Presidency 2016. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
117. ^ "Georgia's PM Signs Application to Join the EU". Civil.ge. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
118. ^ "Information relating to the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo, of the other part". EUR-Lex. 24 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
119. IDIS 'Viitorul', Some reflections on the timing of Moldova's negotiations of the EU Association Agreement. Moldova's Foreign Policy Statewatch, Issue 1, March 2010.
120. "EU, Montenegro complete negotiations on pre-membership deal to bring country closer to bloc". International Herald Tribune. The Associated Press. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
121. "Kosovo Launches Crucial SAA Talks With EU". Balkan Insight. 28 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
122. "Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Kosovo signed". European Commission (Press release). 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
123. "21996D0213(01) - EN". EUR-Lex. 13 February 1996. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
124. ^ Jacopo Barigazzi (7 March 2022). "EU to officially examine Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia's bids to join the bloc". Politico. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
125. Castle, Stephen (25 October 2010). "Serbia Moves Closer to Joining E.U." The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
126. "Council conclusions on the application of Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership of the EU". Council of the European Union. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
127. ^ "Remarks by Commissioner Várhelyi on the handing over of the questionnaires to Georgia and Moldova". European Commission. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
128. "Євросоюз передав Києву опитувальник для отримання статусу кандидата" [The European Union has sent Kyiv a questionnaire to obtain candidate status]. European Pravda (in Ukrainian). 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
129. "Hahn: Questionnaire is a game changer for future of BiH". Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
130. "Georgia Receives EU Membership Questionnaire". civil.ge. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
131. "Молдова заповнила опитувальник для отримання статусу кандидата на членство у ЄС" [Moldova has completed a questionnaire to obtain EU candidate status]. European Pravda (in Ukrainian). 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
132. "Moldova transfers 2nd part of completed questionnaire for EU accession". interfax.com. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
133. "Шлях до членства у ЄС - Україна вже завершила роботу над опитувальником" [The road to EU membership - Ukraine has completed work on the questionnaire]. European Pravda (in Ukrainian). 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
134. "Obtaining Ukraine's EU membership candidate status is of great importance for the Ukrainian people - President during a conversation with Ursula von der Leyen". president.gov.ua. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
135. "Irakli Garibashvili submits EU questionnaire's part one to Carl Hartzell". Retrieved 2 May 2022.
136. "Irakli Garibashvili submits EU questionnaire's 2nd part to Carl Hartzell". Retrieved 10 May 2022.
137. ^ "The European Commission recommends to Council confirming Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia's perspective to become members of the EU and provides its opinion on granting them candidate status". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
138. "Key findings of the Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU membership application and analytical report". European Commission. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
139. "Albania: EU Commission OKs status of membership candidate". ansamed.info. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
140. "EU's von der Leyen: proposed candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina". Reuters. 12 October 2022.
141. "Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions" (PDF). europa.eu. 9 November 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
142. Pawlak, Justyna (22 April 2013). "EU opens to Serbia after Kosovo deal". Uk.reuters.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
143. "European Council conclusions, 28 June 2018". European Council. 28 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
144. "Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process - Council conclusions" (PDF). European Council. 26 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
145. ^ "Council conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process - Consilium". consilium.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
146. ^ "European Council conclusions on Ukraine, enlargement and reforms". Council of the European Union. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
147. "Serbia". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
148. "Türkiye". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
149. ^ RFE/RL's Balkan Service (24 March 2020). "After Years of Delay, North Macedonia, Albania Get OK To Begin EU Accession Talks". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
150. ^ "EU countries agree to begin membership talks with Moldova and Ukraine". France 24. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
151. "Council conclusions on Montenegro" (PDF). ue.eu.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
152. "Council conclusions on Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 17 December 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
153. "Від "корупції" до телемарафону: що ЄС чекає від України та як оцінює готовність до вступу". European Pravda (in Ukrainian). 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
154. "Strategy and Reports - European Commission". neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
155. "Від "корупції" до телемарафону: що ЄС чекає від України та як оцінює готовність до вступу". European Pravda (in Ukrainian). 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
156. "Strategy and Reports - European Commission". neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
157. "Conditions for membership". European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. European Commission. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
158. ^ "Nikol Pashinyan said that you should apply to become a candidate for EU membership before autumn at the latest". hraparak.am.
159. "Joint Motion for a Resolution on closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia | RC-B9-0163/2024 | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu.
160. Siranush Ghazanchyan (14 May 2024). "Democracy a strategy for Armenia։ PM Pashinyan participates in Copenhagen Democracy Summit". Public Radio of Armenia.
161. "Armenia-EU finalize new deal". Asbarez News Agency. 3 October 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
162. Anahit Shirinyan (14 March 2019), Armenia's Foreign Policy Balancing in an Age of Uncertainty Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank
163. "Armenia outside European integration process – Ararat Zurabyan". tert.am. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
164. "Will Armenia apply to become a candidate for EU membership in the coming days?". radar.am.
165. "Օր առաջ դուրս գալ ԵԱՏՄ-ից. "Հայաստանի Եվրոպական կուսակցությունը" համագումար է..." a1plus.am. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
166. "About Us". Heritage Party Website. Archived from the original on 30 May 2014.
167. "People's Party of Armenia Changes Orientation". Armenpress. 8 December 2006. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
168. Shahunyan, Tatevik (26 September 2005). "Interview With RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan". arminfo.am. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2019.,
169. ""Ժողովրդին պարտադրում են ընտրություն կատարել նախկիններ եւ ներկաներ տիրույթում, ինձ համար բոլորն էլ արդեն նախկին են". Դավիթ Սանասարյանի կուսակցության համագումարը". aravot.am.
170. Union for National Self-Determination Party. "The views of Armenian and Azerbaijani Political Parties on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and conflict resolution process" (PDF). commonspace.eu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
171. Danielyan, Emil (18 October 2019). "Tsarukian Endorsed By Eurosceptic EU Politicians". azatutyun.am. RFE/RL. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
172. "Armenia chooses Russia over EU". Politico. 3 September 2013.
173. IRI Armenia Poll Finds Majorities Support EU Membership, Peace Treaty with Azerbaijan
174. "Do Belarusians Want to Join the EU?". Belarus Digest. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
175. Ingebritsen, Christine (1998). The Nordic States and European Unity. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-3484-6.
176. "Afstaða til veru Íslands í NATO og aðildar að ESB" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 March 2022.
177. NTB (4 April 2022). "Måling: En av fem er usikker på norsk EU-medlemskap". Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 April 2022.
178. "Меньшинство россиян за быстрое вступление в ЕС". Deutsche Welle (in Russian). 19 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
179. "EU Relations with the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco and the Republic of San Marino: Options for their participation in the Internal Market". European Commission. 18 November 2013. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
180. "Referendum "europeo": Sinistra Unita dice "Sì"". SMtv San Marino. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
181. "Referendum Ue: sì convinto dall'Upr". SMtv San Marino. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
182. "Civico 10. Su Europa e referendum". 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
183. "Civico10 sul referendum sull'Europa: vietato votare 'no'". 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
184. "Congresso Psd: si cerca la mediazione su un nome che rappresenti le diverse anime". SMtv San Marino. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
185. "Referendum Europa: il Ps è per il sì". SMtv San Marino. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
186. "Referendum 2013: Per San Marino invita a votare sì". SMtv San Marino. 6 October 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
187. "Referendum sull'Europa, Psm spinge verso "l'inizio di una trattativa lunga e difficile"". 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
188. "DC, maggiore integrazione all'Europa non significa adesione". SMtv San Marino. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
189. "San Marino rejects EU accession". politico.eu. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
190. "Linke lanciert neue EU-Beitrittsdebatte". baz.online (in German). 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
191. ^ "Switzerland — Parties". Europe Elects. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
192. "Our vision for a United Europe". Volt Switzerland. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
193. Kuenzi, Renat (15 May 2014). "'We're Not the Only EU Sceptics'". Swissinfo. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
194. "Über Uns". Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland official website. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
195. "Swiss say 'no' to EU". BBC News. 4 March 2001. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
196. Brack, Duncan; Moran, Layla (2 August 2021). "The UK–EU relationship: the Liberal Democrat position". libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
197. "Greens call for re-joining the EU 'as soon as political situation is favourable'". Green Party. 2 October 2022.
198. Gutteridge, Nick (31 May 2023). "Keir Starmer faces Labour Brexit backlash for vowing to stay outside EU". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
199. "Voting Intention and Deltapoll Trackers (26th May 2024) | Deltapoll". Deltapoll | Deltapoll. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
200. Hulsman, John; Liedtke, Boris (8 June 2018). "What if the EU Invited Canada to Join Its Bloc?". INSEAD Knowledge.
201. "General Election 2019: Scotland would 'seek a way back in' to EU". BBC News. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
202. "The Internal Enlargement of the European Union". Centre Maurits Coppieters. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
203. "The 'internal' enlargement of the European Union – is it possible?". Oxford University Press. 1 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019.
204. "The Internal Enlargement of the European Union" (PDF). Centre Maurits Coppieters. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2018.
205. Edward, David, "Scotland's Position in the European Union", Scottish Parliamentary Review, Vol. I, No. 2 (Jan 2014)
206. "Scottish independence: Irish minister says EU application 'would take time'". BBC. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
207. Rankin, Jennifer; Carrell, Severin (13 March 2017). "Independent Scotland 'would have to apply to join EU' – Brussels official". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
208. The Catalan independence movement is pro-EU – but will the EU accept it? Archived 9 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine, London School of Economics 10/OCT/17
209. "Independent Catalonia would need to apply to join EU -Juncker". Reuters. 14 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019.
210. "European Commission - Statement on the events in Catalonia". europa.eu (Press release). Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
211. Scottish independence: EC's Barroso says new states need 'apply to join EU' Archived 12 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 10 December 2012
212. "correspondence from Mr Barroso to the House of lords" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
213. Holehouse, Matthew (16 February 2014). "Jose Manuel Barroso: nearly impossible for Scotland to join EU". Sunday Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2014. Spain, which fears the separation of the Catalonia region, has blocked the accession of Kosovo ... Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission ... went on: 'It will be extremely difficult to get the approval of all the other member states to have a new member coming from one member state.' 'We have seen that Spain has been opposing even the recognition of Kosovo, for instance. It's to some extent a similar case because it's a new country, and so I believe it's going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible.'
214. Nikolaj, Nielsen (17 September 2013). "EU commission: Catalonia must leave EU if it leaves Spain". EUObserver. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
215. Johnson, Simon (27 November 2013). "Spanish PM: Independent Scotland would be kicked out of the EU". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
216. "Scottish independence: Spain warning over EU entry". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2019. 'They have to resolve a mountain of problems, as Better Together has explained very well,' he said.'You have to achieve candidate status. You have to negotiate 35 chapters . It has to be ratified by the institutions of the EU. It then has to be ratified by 28 national parliaments.'
217. Murray, Graeme (26 February 2012). "Spain will not veto an independent Scotland joining EU". Sunday Express. London. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
218. Richard, Youngs (11 July 2017). "EU needs a smarter response to the Catalonia crisis". Politico. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
219. Teffer, Peter (22 December 2017). "Separatist 'win' does not change EU view on Catalonia". EU Observer. Archived from the original on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
220. Fourquet, Jérôme; Kraus, François; Bourgine, Alexandre. "Les Corses et leur perception de la situation sur l'île: Résultats détaillés" (PDF). ifop.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
221. "Corsica 21: U prughjettu", Corsica Libera (in French), pp. 1–150, 2015
222. Van Parijs, Philippe (4 October 2007). "Brussels after Belgium: fringe town or city state ?" (PDF). The Bulletin. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
223. Feki, Donya (29 November 2007). "Jean Quatremer: a nation has been born—Flanders". Café Babel. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
224. Hechter (M.), The Dynamics of Secession, Acta Sociologica, vol. 35, 1992, p. 267.
225. "Entrevista A Marcel Farinelli (1): "Córcega Y Cerdeña Forman Un Archipiélago Invisible Al Tener Sus Islas Nacionalismos De Signo Opuesto"". 9 April 2014.
226. "What next for independence movements in Europe? | openDemocracy".
227. "Identità e autonomia in Sardegna – FocuSardegna". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
228. "La Sardegna che vorrebbe l'indipendenza come i catalani". La Stampa. 9 November 2015.
229. Gianmario Demuro; Ilenia Ruggiu; Francesco Mola (2013). Identità e Autonomia in Sardegna e Scozia. Maggioli Editore. pp. 35–39. ISBN 978-8-8387-8243-5.
230. "Focus: La questione identitaria e indipendentista in Sardegna - University of Cagliari, Ilenia Ruggiu" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
231. Ruggiu, Ilenia (26 June 2014). "The Scottish Referendum: The View from Italy and Sardinia". Scottish Affairs. 23 (3): 407–414. doi:10.3366/scot.2014.0039.
232. "Indipendentista il 40% dei sardi (Conferenza delle Regioni e delle Province autonome)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
233. "La Sardegna vuole l'indipendenza. Favorevoli 4 sardi su 10". controcampus.it. 1 May 2012.
234. "gianfrancopintore: Il 40% dei sardi è per l'indipendenza; il resto per la sovranità". 30 April 2012.
235. "Delibere - Regione Autonoma della Sardegna". regione.sardegna.it.
236. La Sardegna: lo stato delle cose fra "percepito" e ossatura reale, Istituto Ixè, Fondazione di Sardegna; Vissuto – identità, table n. 44
237. "L'Isola ha paura del futuro Fiducia solo sul turismo – Regione". 7 December 2017.
238. "Dark truth behind Sardinia's holiday oasis". news.com.au.
239. "Sardinia: Militarization, Contamination and Cancer in Paradise" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2016.
240. "Sardegna, La Protesta Contro Le Servitu'". rai.tv.
241. "Così in Sardegna si è riacceso l'indipendentismo, Nicola Mirenzi – Europa Quotidiano".
242. <<In chiave antimilitarista, nel quadro del tradizionale attivismo contestativo contro la presenza di strutture militari sul territorio nazionale, a fronte del tono minore che ha caratterizzato l'impegno dei comitati siciliani contro il sistema satellitare MUOS, si è rilevato un innalzamento della tensione mobilitativa in Sardegna, ove espressioni dell'antagonismo e dell'indipendentismo sardo hanno rivitalizzato la protesta contro le esercitazioni nei poligoni e nelle installazioni militari dell'Isola, reclamando la smilitarizzazione del territorio.>> Relazione sulla politica dell'informazione per la sicurezza, pg.69
243. "Capo Frasca, la nuova Pratobello". 15 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
244. "Oltre 5mila per dire no ai poligoni festa identitaria davanti ai cancelli". La Nuova Sardegna. 15 September 2014.
245. Marrocco, Adalgisa. "Indipendentismo sardo, questo sconosciuto". Contrappunti.
246. "Be On The Citizen Side Of Things". citizenside.com.
247. Mattu, Katjuscia. Internal colonialism in Western Europe: the case of Sardinia
248. "I fondamenti storici dell'indipendenza sarda – Lacanas".
249. "Parties, associations ask for direct representation of Sardinia in European Parliament". Nationalia. 30 May 2023.
250. "Europee, in Sardegna campagna "Eu non voto". C'è anche Zappadu". Il Fatto Quotidiano. 8 May 2014.
251. "Il Senato affonda il collegio Sardegna, per l'Isola nessun europarlamentare". 19 March 2014.
252. Eve Hepburn, New Challenges for Stateless Nationalist and Regionalist Parties, Routledge, 2010, pp.121
253. "Referendum consultivo in Sardegna". Assonucleare.it. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
254. "Referendum nucleare Sardegna: concluse verifiche Comuni, i SI al 97,13% - Regione Autonoma della Sardegna". regione.sardegna.it. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
255. "Sardegna: paradiso turistico o la lenta morte di un popolo? Di Marco Oggianu, 21.12.2006". gfbv.it.
256. "Veneto Libero, Indipendente (nella Nato in Europa e con l'Euro.... Il Problema è lo STATO ITALIANO) - Rischio Calcolato". rischiocalcolato.it. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
257. "Referendum consultivo". referendum2017.consiglioveneto.it.
258. "L'Europa Secondo la Lega". 2 July 1993.
259. "dettaglio news - Regione del Veneto".
260. "Europee: Zaia, serve un'Europa forte e delle Regioni". www.liberoquotidiano.it.
261. "Zaia: "Noi come la CatalognaMi farei anche arrestare"". 22 September 2017.
262. "Zaia: "Risorse Ue sono soldi anche nostri, vanno spesi bene"". 10 October 2023.
263. "Turkish Cypriot community". European Commission — Directorate-General for Enlargement. 3 January 2007. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010.
264. "Outcome of the special European Council (Article 50) meeting of 29 April 2017" (PDF). European Parliament. 1 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
265. Rankin, Jennifer (28 April 2017). "Europe could allow a united Ireland to join EU after Brexit". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
266. Nescutu, Madalin (7 April 2021). "Numărul unioniștilor, în creștere accelerată în Moldova: cel mai recent sondaj arată că 44% dintre ei vor unirea cu România" [The number of unionists, growing rapidly in Moldova: the latest poll shows that 44% of them want union with Romania]. g4media.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
267. ^ "Romania-Moldova reunification: Three scenarios". 5 September 2023.
268. "A union between Moldova and Romania: On the cards?". EUObserver. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
269. "Moldova and Romania: A Long and Complicated Relationship | Origins". 27 July 2023.
270. "Gagauzia Voters Choose Russia over EU". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 4 February 2014.
271. "Treaty establishing the European community, last revision from Nice 2001, Art.299(6)a". EUR-Lex. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
272. Spongenberg, Helena (4 May 2006). "Fish keep Faroe Islands at a distance from EU". EUobserver.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
273. "Portal.fo" (in Faroese). Retrieved 7 January 2011.
274. ^ "Greenland's exit warning to Britain". Polotico.eu. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
275. "Legislation (Greenland)". Official Journal of the European Communities. 28. 1 February 1985. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
276. "Greenland could re-join the EU". EUobserver Review. 5 January 2007. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
277. Baume, Maïa de La (22 June 2016). "Greenland's exit warning to Britain". politico.eu. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
278. "Treaty of Lisbon Article 2, point 293" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
279. "Countries - Pacific - New Caledonia - Information Paper - NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade". mfat.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

Further reading

• "Ukraine ratifies EU association agreement". Deutsche Welle. 16 September 2014. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
• "European Parliament resolution of 17 July 2014 on Ukraine (2014/2717(RSP))". European Parliament. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2015. pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – like any other European state - have a European perspective and may apply to become members of the Union provided that they adhere to the principles of democracy, respect fundamental freedoms and human and minority rights and ensure the rule of law;

External links

• EU enlargement – Europa (web portal)
• European Union Member States and applicant countries – European NAvigator
• Bahhouth, Victor; Ziemnowicz, Christopher (6 March 2018). "Meeting the Global Challenges of Doing Business in the Five Candidate Countries on the Road to Join the European Union". Journal of the Knowledge Economy. 10 (3): 1297–1318. doi:10.1007/s13132-018-0531-3. S2CID 158074120.
• Dimitrijevic, Vojin; Hartmann, Florence; Jovic, Dejan; Memisevic, Tija (June 2009). Batt, Judy; Obradović, Jelena (eds.). "War crimes, conditionality and EU integration in the Western Balkans". Chaillot Papers (116). Archived from the original on 23 December 2009.

• European Union
• Europe

• Enlargement of the European Union
• Lists of proposals
• Public policy proposals
• European integration