Socialist MEPs call for faster EU enlargement and changes to accession decision-making
The European Parliament’s Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group has called for a renewed push towards EU enlargement, urging Member States to make accession negotiations more dynamic and prevent individual governments from blocking progress.
In a statement ahead of the European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Package, the group said Russia’s war against Ukraine had increased the strategic importance of enlargement for Europe’s unity, security and sovereignty.
The S&Ds welcomed the Commission’s proposed roadmaps for four candidate countries considered at the forefront of the accession process: Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine. However, they stressed that candidates must continue implementing reforms in the rule of law, democracy, media freedom and the fight against corruption, while the EU must also prepare institutionally for a larger Union.
Kathleen Van Brempt, the group’s vice-president responsible for enlargement, called for decisions on opening negotiating clusters and other intermediate accession steps to be taken by qualified majority rather than unanimity in the Council. This would reduce the ability of individual governments to hold up negotiations, she argued.
The group also backed gradual integration to give candidate countries tangible benefits before membership, while insisting this must remain a stepping stone towards full EU membership rather than an alternative.
It also highlighted recent elections in Serbia and Moldova’s continued efforts towards European integration despite Russian interference.
