The European Union could expand its membership by 2030, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said the bloc’s enlargement is now a “geopolitical necessity” amid global instability. Speaking after the European Commission released its annual progress report on candidate nations, Kallas praised reform efforts in Montenegro and Albania while noting democratic setbacks in Serbia and Georgia.
Kallas said Montenegro and Albania remain frontrunners for accession, with Ukraine and Moldova showing significant progress despite facing major challenges. She highlighted Ukraine’s ongoing reforms during wartime as “unprecedented” and described EU membership as a potential “security guarantee” for the country. Moldova, too, received praise for advancing its democratic institutions despite Russian interference attempts.
However, Kallas and EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos voiced concerns over Georgia’s democratic decline and Serbia’s backsliding on media freedom and governance. Kos urged Georgia’s leaders to “listen to their people” and halt the repression of opposition voices.
While some EU members, including Hungary, continue to block Ukraine’s accession progress, Kallas emphasized that enlargement remains a realistic goal. She added that the EU must adapt its internal decision-making process to avoid paralysis as it considers new members. “The world order is changing, and Europe must be ready to play its role,” she said.