The European Commission has linked progress on membership to reforms covering judicial independence, the fight against corruption, and institutional modernization.
This event will bring together, for the first time, leaders of the European Union and candidate countries at a key moment for European integration. The meeting, scheduled from 14:00 to 17:00 (CET), aims to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the bloc's enlargement process to the East, in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine and the renewed push of the European agenda.
Alongside Zelenskyy, the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu; the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić; and the Prime Ministers of Albania, Edi Rama; of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić; and of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, will participate.
The persistent blocking of some European partners, including Hungary, adds a significant political weight to the debate.
Diplomatic sources indicate that this summit could serve to launch a more operational roadmap for enlargement, which would assess not only technical requirements but also strategic ones: shared security, energy integration, and common defense.
According to the organizers, this summit marks a turning point for candidate countries, both formally integrated and awaiting the start of negotiations.
The accession process for Ukraine and Moldova is at a critical point.
The success of the event will depend on the EU's ability to deliver on its commitments, reduce internal vetoes, and offer a credible path to membership for countries that share democratic and geopolitical objectives with the bloc.
The goal for today is to issue a joint declaration that not only recognizes progress but also sets a timeline for next steps: the start of formal negotiations, the disbursement of support funds, and the redefinition of decision-making mechanisms in the EU that would allow for faster accession without sacrificing standards.
In an environment fraught with challenges—such as the war in Ukraine, migratory pressure, global geopolitical competition, and the democratic evolution of the aspirants—the summit serves as a gauge of Europe's ambition. The intervention of the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, is also expected.
Zelenskyy's participation is a highly symbolic gesture for Ukraine's integration into the EU.
For Ukraine, joining the EU has ceased to be solely an economic goal and has become a pillar of its national security and the continent's stability.
The framework of the summit also sends a clear signal to the world: Europe is looking to the East, and its agenda includes both the reconstruction of Ukraine and the integration of the Western Balkans.
In previous statements, he urged member states to accelerate the accession process and warned that slowness could undermine the credibility of the European project.
The "Euronews EU Enlargement Summit" initiative is presented as an unprecedented platform to review enlargement mechanisms at a time when the EU seeks to expand its strategic influence and strengthen its security amid geopolitical tensions.
For Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkan countries, and for the EU itself, the message is clear: either we move forward clearly, or the credibility of our common project is put at risk.
Brussels, November 4, 2025 – Total News Agency-TNA – The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed today his participation in the European Union enlargement summit organized by Euronews, taking place this Tuesday in Brussels.
