The EU is considering offering accession roadmaps to four candidate countries; Georgia is not among them

The EU is considering developing specific "roadmaps" to accelerate the accession process for Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova, and Albania.

As two senior European Commission officials told Politico, the plans entail defining clear milestones and indicative timelines for these countries' accession processes. They stated that if the countries implement the necessary reforms, clearer guarantees regarding the continuation of the accession process would be established.

According to a European Commission representative, the roadmaps will outline the specific reforms required for each candidate country and set indicative timelines for completing individual negotiation "clusters." In her "State of the Union" address in early September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would provide targeted support to those candidate countries that have made the most progress in the accession process.

At this stage, no such roadmaps are envisaged for Kosovo, North Macedonia, or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also excluded are Georgia, Turkey, and Serbia, whose accession progress has stalled amid EU concerns regarding backsliding in the areas of democratic governance and the justice system.

A European Commission representative confirmed to the publication that the new roadmaps would outline the path toward concluding accession negotiations and establish reform priorities, timelines, and obligations for the most advanced candidate countries. The European Union considers enlargement to be geopolitically significant, particularly against the backdrop of threats posed by Russia, China's policies, and tensions in relations with the United States.

At the same time, the EU plans to review its pre-accession policy for candidate countries. The initiative envisages the gradual integration of candidate countries into EU economic and joint projects, allowing them broader access to the EU market and various programs while they implement reforms.

According to a European Commission working document, the accession process will continue to be based on strict, merit-based conditions; however, during this period, candidate countries are expected to fully utilize existing opportunities for gradual integration with the EU.

EU leaders will discuss enlargement and internal reforms at a two-day summit scheduled for October 15 in Brussels. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos hopes that the planned changes and negotiations with EU leaders will usher in an "autumn of enlargement."

Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen will visit Western Balkan countries this week and meet with the leaders of Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. She will not visit Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia during this trip.