Marta Kos: European Commission will present new enlargement ideas on 6 October
Commissioner Marta Kos told ministers in Przno that proposals will stress 'more Europe before membership' but will not substitute full EU accession.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said on the sidelines of a Berlin Process foreign ministers meeting in Przno that the European Commission will present additional ideas for gradual integration into the EU on 6 October, stressing that such measures are not a substitute for full membership.
Montenegro's negotiating momentum
Opening the gathering in Montenegro titled "Western Balkans in a changing Europe," Kos congratulated Montenegrin authorities for their reforms and noted the country has closed 18 negotiating chapters, with several more expected to be closed at the next intergovernmental conference in mid‑October.
"You are now in the very final stage, so keep all your energy for the negotiations ahead. This achievement in Montenegro has created a new momentum for enlargement across the Western Balkans," Kos said, highlighting the regional impact of Podgorica's progress.
Kos announced the Commission will put forward additional ideas next week — on 6 October — on how gradual integration can be expanded, centred on the concept of "more Europe before membership," while underlining that this approach does not replace accession to the EU.
"That must be clear. The EU offers a shared future in which the conflicts of the past lose their importance. Remember, integration into the EU is a space for reconciliation. We must not forget that European integration was built on the decision of former enemies to heal the wounds of the past," she added.
She also framed the proposals as an opportunity for the entire Western Balkans: "Where neighbours jointly face the legacies of the past, old divisions can disappear over time, which is crucial for internal cohesion and social stability of an enlarged European Union. Therefore, let us resolve open bilateral issues in the spirit of the Berlin Process, through good‑neighbourly relations, regional integration, mutual trust and cooperation. Let us use this opportunity to enlarge the EU, for the sake of the future of this and the next generations," Kos said.
Photo: press material from the event
