European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Albania is among the leading candidates in the European Union enlargement process. In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, she placed Albania and Montenegro at the front of the process, followed by Moldova and Ukraine. Kos said enlargement had achieved more results this year than in the previous 25 years.

Kos said the opportunity for enlargement would remain open for some time. However, she noted that the process also depends on political developments in EU member states and wider geopolitical factors. She said the European Union cannot allow a vacuum in its neighbourhood amid Russia’s war and instability in the Western Balkans. At the same time, she stressed that candidate countries must continue to meet merit-based and reform requirements.

Kos said Montenegro could meet all membership criteria by the end of this year or early next year. She also ruled out Ukraine joining the European Union on January 1, 2027, saying accession must remain based on merit. She stressed that Albania’s position at the front of the process reflects its progress on the path to membership. Kos also said European Union leaders must address internal reforms, safeguards for the rule of law and democracy, and gradual integration. At the same time, she underscored that gradual integration cannot replace full membership.

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