The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU - Serbia (T)

Enlargement to Bosnia and Herzegovina (T)

Enlargement to North Macedonia (T)

Enlargement to Montenegro (T)

EU - North Macedonia (T)

Enlargement to Albania (T)

EU - Bosnia and Herzegovina (T)

EU - Kosovo (T)

Enlargement to Kosovo (T)

Enlargement to Serbia (T)

EU - Montenegro (T)

EU - Albania (T)

Western Balkans

Enlargement to the Western Balkans countries (T)

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina: arrival, welcome; and roundtable

2nd EP - Western Balkans Speakers' summit chaired by David SASSOLI, EP President; arrivals, roundtable, signing of joint declaration of Western Balkans Speakers Summit 2021 and family photo

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit - AFET Committee in association with the EP Standing delegations for the Western Balkans, with the Speakers of the Western Balkans parliaments

2nd European Parliament - Western Balkans Speakers Summit: extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments

Announcement of the results of the second voting session (18/05)

EP Plenary session - 2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro

2019-2020 Reports on Montenegro: opening statements by Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), rapporteur, Augusto SANTOS SILVA, Portuguese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Infoclip: Montenegro

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - 2019-2020 Progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia

Press confrence - Reports on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Albania and North Macedonia

Joint debate - 2019-2020 Progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State

EU-Western Balkan Summit

EP Plenary session - Parliament’s statements - Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit

Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament at the EU - Western Balkans summit

Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit: MEPs Debate

Preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit: one round of political group speakers

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, at the EU-Western Balkans summit: arrival and doorstep

EU-Western Balkans Summit: Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

2022 Report on Kosovo: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA,DE), Rapporteur

2022 Report on Kosovo: MEPs debate

2022 Report on Kosovo: opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

2022 Report on Serbia: closing statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

2022 Report on Serbia: MEPs debate

2022 Report on Serbia: opening statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Question Time to Commission - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans: Questions & Answers (part 3) with Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Question Time to Commission - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans: Questions & Answers (part 2) with Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Question Time to Commission - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans: Questions & Answers (part 1) with Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: closing statement by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: MEPs debate (part 2)

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: MEPs debate (continuation of part 1)

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: MEPs debate (part 1)

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: opening statement by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Infoclip: Future of the European Union

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