Brussels, 30 October 2024 (MIA) -- The European Commission's College of Commissioners is set to adopt Wednesday the 2024 Enlargement Package that incorporates the progress reports for EU candidate countries North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Serbia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Montenegro, MIA's Brussels correspondent reports.

After the package is adopted, it will be officially presented by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi.

The annual Enlargement Package, a set of documents explaining the EU enlargement policy, takes stock of the developments over the last year. It examines the progress made by the candidate countries and potential candidates, the challenges encountered and reforms to be addressed and sets out proposals for the way forward.

In addition to the main Communication, the package contains the Reports in which the Commission services present their detailed annual assessment of the state of play of the reform progress in each candidate country and potential candidate over the last year. These assessments are accompanied by recommendations and guidance on the reform priorities.

North Macedonia is expected to receive support for its EU perspective, with the report reiterating the Council of the EU's conclusion that the "Council stands ready to convene another intergovernmental conference, without further delays nor additional political decision, as soon as North Macedonia has implemented its commitment to complete the constitutional changes as referred to in the Council Conclusions of July 2022."

The need of honoring bilateral agreements, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Friendship Agreement with Bulgaria, is expected to be higlighted again.

The EC is also expected to reaffirm its commitment to Enlargement as a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity amid new geopolitical conditions, while reiterating that the process is merit-based. 

Aspiring members will be most likely be advised to focus on reforms in the rule of law, regional integration, goodneighborly relations, reconciliation, and solving bilateral disputes. ik/mr