Slovenia welcomes 2025 Enlargement Package and commits to supporting candidate countries

On 4 November 2025, the European Commission presented this year’s Enlargement Package, covering ten candidate and potential candidate countries. The Package provides an overview and assessment of the situation in the Western Balkans, the Eastern Trio and Türkiye, highlighting the areas in which individual countries need to make further progress on reforms.

A key component of the Package is the European Commission’s recommendations on the next steps in the enlargement process, which Slovenia supports. The Commission recognises the significant progress achieved by individual candidate countries, offering them a realistic prospect of joining the EU during the current Commission’s term of office. In this context, a merit-based approach is emphasised, including the need to fulfil existing commitments.

Slovenia welcomes the 2025 Enlargement Package, convinced that it will further strengthen the Union. Current geopolitical circumstances – marked by multiple ongoing conflicts in our immediate neighbourhood and across the world – call for accelerated integration processes to promote greater stability, security and prosperity. Enlargement with the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe is not only in the interest of the EU and its new members, it is also a geostrategic imperative. Slovenia remains committed to providing sustained support to candidate and potential candidate countries on their path towards EU membership. We are convinced that a clear European perspective is the key motivator for further reforms, and their successful implementation is essential for achieving progress on this path.

Slovenia supports the European Commission’s proposal to provide financial support to candidate and potential candidate countries for their EU integration through the new Global Europe instrument within the next Multiannual Financial Framework. We also welcome the Commission’s proposal to revise the Multiannual Financial Framework accordingly in the event of new member states joining the Union.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs agrees with the Commission’s assessment that Montenegro has made significant progress and achieved tangible results, placing it at the forefront of countries in the accession process. The Montenegrin Government has significantly accelerated its preparations for EU accession, closing four additional negotiating chapters at two intergovernmental conferences over the past year. Its clear political commitment to EU membership as a key priority is reflected in political decisions, including its continued full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), particularly with regard to sanctions. As Montenegro continues to make progress, we welcome the fact that the European Commission will present a draft financial package and draft common positions for closing negotiations on the financial and budgetary provisions, as well as the chapter on institutions.

The Ministry agrees with the European Commission that Albania has made significant progress on its path towards EU membership. The country has demonstrated a consistent and firm political commitment to the strategic goal of EU integration, as well as a determination to advance accession negotiations on the basis of further reform progress. This has resulted in the scheduling of additional intergovernmental conferences in 2025 and the opening of five negotiation clusters.

According to the European Commission’s assessment, due to the political and institutional crisis, Bosnia and Herzegovina has not made sufficient progress on reforms to enable the start of EU accession negotiations in line with the decision adopted by EU leaders at the European Council in March last year. Consequently, the country must prioritise progress in the area of justice and appoint a head of the negotiating team for talks with the EU. An important positive step has been taken with the adoption of the Reform Agenda. Slovenia strongly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing the necessary reforms for the country’s continued progress towards EU membership and for the well-being of its citizens.

Kosovo remains committed to its European path. Its EU membership application was submitted in December 2022. The European Commission stands ready to prepare an Opinion on Kosovo’s membership application if requested by the Council. However, Kosovo’s progress towards the EU depends on its ability to fully implement all its obligations under the 2023 Agreement on the path to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as its Implementation Roadmap.

Like the European Commission, Slovenia expects North Macedonia to continue advancing on its path towards EU membership. In this regard, Slovenia joins the Commission in urging North Macedonia to implement key reforms and meet the necessary conditions for progress as soon as possible. Slovenia will continue to provide North Macedonia with political support and share its experience and insights on European integration.

We concur with the European Commission’s assessment that the current situation in Serbia has significantly affected the EU negotiation process and contributed to the stagnation of reforms. Serbia needs to make progress in several key areas of the negotiation process, including strengthening the rule of law, upholding human rights, tackling corruption, improving media freedom, amending electoral legislation and aligning with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Special emphasis is placed on the role and position of civil society. In this year’s report, the European Commission again notes that Serbia is technically ready to open Negotiation Cluster 3 (Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth).

Türkiye is both a candidate country and a key partner of the EU. The Union has a strategic interest in maintaining a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean, and in strengthening its cooperation and mutually beneficial relations with Türkiye. The EU attaches particular importance to continuing and advancing talks to resolve the Cyprus issue. Türkiye is expected to uphold international law, maintain good neighbourly relations and respect the sovereignty of EU member states. At the same time, the rule of law dialogue remains an integral and essential part of EU-Türkiye relations, with particular focus on the assessment of judicial independence, respect for fundamental rights and democratic standards.

Slovenia also welcomes the progress made by Ukraine and Moldova in implementing the European Commission’s recommendations to date. We support both countries’ efforts to join the EU and are encouraged by their progress in aligning their legislation with the EU acquis. We share the Commission’s view that a good level of legislative alignment has been achieved, but that more needs to be done to strengthen the enforcement and implementation of legislation based on the rule of law. This must involve civil society and effective anti-corruption mechanisms.

Slovenia welcomes Ukraine’s strong commitment to its European aspirations, despite the challenging circumstances it is facing. At the same time, we encourage Ukraine to maintain its pace and firm commitment to reforms, and to avoid any setbacks, particularly in the area of the rule of law. Moldova has likewise maintained a clear pro-European course and enhanced its cooperation with the EU. Slovenia welcomes the outcome of the parliamentary elections and the first EU-Moldova summit, both of which pave the way for Moldova’s European future.

Slovenia follows the situation in Georgia with deep concern. We agree with the assessment that 2025 witnessed a serious setback to Georgia’s democratic processes, resulting in the suspension of the accession process. The Georgian authorities have taken repressive measures against civil society, the media and opposition representatives. These actions are contrary to the values and principles underpinning the EU, as well as to Georgia’s obligations under international law. Slovenia continues to support the aspirations of the Georgian people to pursue the European path. However, for Georgia’s accession process to continue, its government must reaffirm the country's commitment to European values and return to the path of European integration.