As the European Commission begins its new mandate, one of its most important responsibilities is reviving the EU’s enlargement process – a force that has built a secure, democratic and prosperous continent. Enlargement is Europe’s most powerful tool to promote stability and shared progress, and the new Commission must seize this opportunity with clarity and courage.
The stakes have never been higher. Russia’s war in Ukraine has exposed the vulnerabilities of fragile democracies at Europe’s borders. Georgia, Moldova and the Western Balkans look to the EU not only with hope but also with increasing concern about whether its actions will match its promises. More than a procedural exercise, enlargement is Europe’s strategic compass. Failing to act decisively risks eroding trust and ceding ground to external powers eager to exploit any vacuum.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) stands ready to support this mission by engaging with civil society organisations and social partners in candidate countries. Through initiatives like the Enlargement Candidate Members (ECM) project, which has already brought 146 representatives from nine candidate countries into EESC advisory work, we have demonstrated that candidate countries’ civil society and social partners can enrich our opinions on critical EU priorities, from cohesion policy to sustainability.
We now call on the Commission to undertake a paradigm shift in how enlargement is managed. Gradual integration, allowing candidate countries to participate in EU programmes and structures before full membership, should be a cornerstone of this approach, which will ensure that the enlargement process is dynamic, predictable and merit based.
At the same time, the EU must prioritise strengthening civic space and social dialogue in candidate countries, including the right to collective bargaining. This is a lesson from past enlargement rounds in which insufficient EU commitment left many Central and Eastern European countries with weak structures for social dialogue. The target of 80 per cent collective bargaining coverage, outlined in the EU’s minimum wage directive, should serve as a benchmark for candidate countries to ensure fair, sustainable economic development.
The new Commission also has an opportunity to strengthen civil society’s role in enlargement. The EESC urges the Commission to support the ECM initiative’s expansion – a commitment that would amplify civil society’s contributions and reinforce the EU’s credibility.
As the next Commission defines its 2024 to 2029 agenda, enlargement must be a cornerstone. Enlargement is not just a strategy for stability; it reaffirms Europe’s promise to unite, not divide. The leadership of President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos will be critical in aligning EU actions with its values.
The world looks to Europe for leadership in these uncertain times. Enlargement must remain central to the EU’s vision – a vision that embraces democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The EESC is ready to partner with the Commission to ensure that civil society remains central to Europe’s most transformative project. Let us act decisively and honour the EU’s enduring promise of unity.