Drafting of Montenegro's EU Accession Treaty can now begin EU ambassadors endorsed the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Party, which will start outlining the agreement between the 27 member states and Montenegro

The drafting of #Montenegro EU Accession Treaty can finally begin

EU ambassadors endorsed the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Party, which will be responsible for outlining the legally binding agreement between the member states and Montenegro

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/22/m...

Ukraine aims to close EU accession chapters already in 2026 Deputy Prime Minister Kachka set out Ukraine's goal, provided that clusters are formally opened "by May or June." The Accession Treaty would be signed "in 2027"

#Ukraine aims to close EU negotiating chapters “already this year” and sign the Accession Treaty by 2027

Deputy Prime Minister Kachka set out "a tentative calendar for what is feasible," provided that clusters are formally opened "by May or June"

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/22/u...

The Western Balkans could soon lose €700 million in EU funds If the required reforms under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans are not implemented by 2026. Bosnia and Herzegovina would be the biggest loser of funds

No substantial reforms by 2026 could cost the #WesternBalkans up to €700 million in EU funds

Commissioner Kos warned that part of the funds under the Growth Plan are "at risk of being permanently lost." #Bosnia would be the biggest loser of funds

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/21/w...

Judicial reforms in Serbia put €1.5bn EU grants at risk Commissioner Kos announced that the EU executive is assessing whether Serbia "still fulfills the conditions for payments" under the Growth Plan

Controversial judicial reforms and a democratic crackdown in #Serbia put €1.5bn in EU grants at risk

Commissioner Kos stated that the Commission is "currently assessing whether the country still fulfils the conditions for payments" under the Growth Plan

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/20/s...

US NATO withdrawal threat revives EU enlargement for defence Zelensky urges the EU to rely on Ukraine, Türkiye, the UK, Norway. Yet they "cannot fully replace the US security umbrella" under NATO, warns EUISS' Spatafora

#Zelensky urges the EU to include Ukraine, Türkiye, UK, Norway "to match Russia." While a full US disengagement from #NATO "remains unlikely," @euiss.bsky.social analyst @gspataf95.bsky.social warns that this alternative "cannot fully replace" US security umbrella

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/16/u...

The size of NATO and non-NATO military forces in Europe An interactive infographic on active and reserve personnel by country: NATO–EU members, EU-only or NATO-only members, and countries that are members of neither

The size of #NATO and non-NATO military forces in Europe

An interactive infographic on active and reserve personnel by country: NATO–EU members, EU-only or NATO-only members, and countries that are members of neither

#EuropeanDefence #EuropeanSecurity

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/17/s...

Could Hungary's political shift break EU unanimity deadlock? Commission President von der Leyen suggests using the momentum to move from unanimity to QMV in foreign policy. The issue is "extremely urgent," MEP Gozi warns

Could #Hungary political shift really break the unanimity deadlock in the EU accession process?

Especially with #Ukraine accession on the horizon, internal reforms are "extremely urgent," MEP @sandrogozi.bsky.social (@reneweurope.bsky.social) warns

#EUenlargement

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How Orbán's historic defeat will impact EU enlargement From Ukraine to the Western Balkans, the end of Orbán's power in Hungary sets a new course for the EU's ambitions in this area. Yet it will not be a revolution

How #Orbán historic defeat in the elections in #Hungary will impact EU enlargement policy

With comments by Bohdan Popov (United Ukraine), Giorgio Fruscione (ISPI/@biepag.bsky.social), Berta López Domènech and Fabian Zuleeg (@epc-official.bsky.social)

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/13/o...

Investment channelled through #EagleHills is tilting the rule of law in #Montenegro, #Albania, and #Serbia
Research analyst Ilriiana Gjoni @carnegieeurope.bsky.social explains why EU standards should be upheld "even before" any candidate country becomes part of the EU
newunionpost.eu/2026/04/10/u...

Even in Ukraine, doubts grow over EU membership by 2027 "Demanding a date for EU accession is in the realm of fantasy," said Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine's EU Integration

Even in #Ukraine, doubts grow over EU membership by 2027

"Demanding a date for EU accession is in the realm of fantasy," said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine's EU Integration in an interview for Ukrinform

#EUenlargement
newunionpost.eu/2026/04/07/u...

The proposal for pre-enlargement reforms is now frozen EU officials say that the proposal on pre-enlargement reforms is waiting for political urgency on Ukraine's accession and "a new idea" of enlargement process

From the oven to the fridge. EU officials confirm that the Commission's proposal for pre-enlargement reforms is waiting "for the right moment," when there is sufficient political urgency and it will not risk being "put in a corner and ignored"

#EUenlargement

newunionpost.eu/2026/04/02/p...

'Merit-based' EU accession at risk amid double standards The "preferential treatment" for Ukraine and Moldova over the Western Balkans shows that strategic value "has always influenced" the EU accession process, says policy researcher Cvetanova

Normalising double standards in #EUaccession risks the credibility of the merit-based process

The "preferential treatment" for #Ukraine and #Moldova shows that "strategic value has always influenced the pace and treatment of candidates," says Filipa Cvetanova
newunionpost.eu/2026/03/30/e...

The first EU-Armenia Summit to be held in Yerevan on 4–5 May After the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan, the EU-Armenia Summit will address connectivity, security, global challenges, and visa liberalisation

The first-ever EU-Armenia Summit will be held in Yerevan on 4–5 May

Connectivity, security in the South Caucasus, global challenges, and visa liberalisation will be on the agenda

#Armenia #visaliberalisation #EUaccession #EUArmeniaSummit

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/27/f...

Montenegro "can share the 28th place" with Iceland in the EU Interview with Ambassador Marković on Montenegro's challenges in 2026 and the "fantastic political symmetry" a decade on, should Reykjavík rejoin the race

Montenegro "can share the 28th place" with Iceland as a future EU member

Interview with Ambassador Petar Marković on #Montenegro challenges in closing all negotiating chapters by the end of 2026 and beginning the drafting of the Accession Treaty

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/26/m...

The EU accession negotiations, in 6 clusters and 33 chapters An interactive infographic explaining how EU accession negotiations have been structured since 2021 into a specific number of chapters and clusters

The #EUaccession negotiations explained, in clusters and chapters

Since the introduction of the new methodology in 2021, EU accession negotiations have been structured into 33 negotiating chapters grouped into six clusters

#EUenlargement #EUnegotiations

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/24/e...

Zelensky fears Ukraine's EU accession may not end well Addressing the European Council, Zelensky warned that a situation like the Hungarian blockade of Kyiv's financing must not happen with the formal negotiations

#Zelensky fears #Ukraine EU accession could end like the €90 billion support loan
In his address to #EUCO, he warned that a situation like the ongoing #Orban's blockade must not happen with the opening of formal accession negotiations

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/20/z...

EU accession policy reform to be "killed off" by 27 capitals EU officials confirm to The New Union Post that a fast-track EU accession "is not realistic for any candidate." Reversed membership is off the table

EU members are ready to “kill off” any revision of the #EUaccession policy.
Two EU officials confirm to The New Union Post that a fast-track accession – as suggested for #Ukraine – "is not realistic for any candidate"

#EUenlargement #reversedenlargement

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/19/e...

Montenegro has closed 14 negotiating chapters so far Negotiations between Montenegro and the EU have been provisionally closed on Chapter 21 (Trans-European Networks). The goal is to conclude the process by 2026

#Montenegro progress on its EU path now counts 14 chapters closed

At the 26th Accession Conference, Chapter 21 (Trans-European Networks) was provisionally finalised. Progress is still required in the rule-of-law area to meet the goal of concluding the process by 2026
newunionpost.eu/2026/03/17/m...

Ukraine and Moldova open all accession chapters – informally Technical guidance was provided to Ukraine and Moldova to work on EU reforms across all six clusters, until Hungary lifts its veto and the formal process starts

#Ukraine and #Moldova open all accession chapters – but informally

Technical guidance was provided to both candidates to continue work on EU reforms across all six negotiating clusters, until "political conditions" allow the opening of the formal process

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/17/u...

Armenia links EU membership application to Georgia's EU path Addressing the European Parliament, PM Pashinyan said that "the biggest obstacle" to Armenia's EU integration is the state of Brussels-Tbilisi relations

Addressing the European Parliament, Prime Minister #Pashinyan said that "the biggest obstacle" to #Armenia's EU integration is "the frozen state of political dialogue" between the EU and #Georgia, which undermines the "tangible" prospect of accession

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/12/a...

The EU enlargement strategy must not ignore internal reforms MEP Auštrevičius (Renew), rapporteur for the EU enlargement strategy, says that this process provides a "serious" argument for the Union to "inevitably change"

In an interview with The New Union Post, MEP Petras Auštrevičius (Renew), rapporteur for the #EUenlargement strategy, stresses that "to enlarge is the natural state" of the Union, and that this process provides a "serious" argument for it to "inevitably change"

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/11/e...

EU's rightward shift labels all candidates as safe countries The new restrictive legislation on migration assigns EU candidates a role as safe countries of origin and safe third countries, with risks on the horizon

In its rightward shift on #migration, the EU assumes that all candidates are safe countries. This will affect the new EU legislation, which is focused on implementing the strictest possible #return policies, disregarding concerns for the #RuleofLaw and #humanrights

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/10/e...

Icelandic government calls for EU referendum on 29 August A positive outcome of the vote would give Prime Minister Frostadóttir the mandate to resume and conclude Iceland's EU accession negotiations

#Iceland will vote on reopening #EUaccession negotiations on 29 August.

A positive outcome of the #referendum would give Prime Minister Frostadóttir the mandate to resume and conclude the process frozen since 2013

#Icelandreferendum #EUreferendum

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/07/i...

Can EU candidate status be formally revoked by Brussels? With no legal provisions for terminating EU candidate status, two ways could be envisaged. Yet, "we should not turn the tables," warns Professor Hillion

Can EU candidate status be formally revoked by Brussels?
Although there are no legal provisions or precedents of Council's decisions, two different ways could be envisaged. Yet, "we should not turn the tables," warns Professor Hillion
#EUenlargement

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/05/c...

Switzerland is not interested in joining the EU, 10 years on The signing of a broad package of agreements represents the deepest form of integration reached ten years after Switzerland withdrew its EU application

Ten years on, #Switzerland is still not interested in joining the EU. The signing of a broad package of agreements represents the deepest form of integration reached since Bern withdrew its EU application in 2016

newunionpost.eu/2026/03/03/s...

European defence plans must not overlook the Western Balkans According to Zorić (EUISS) and Gjoni (Carnegie), “geography is one of the strongest arguments” for including the region in the European defence architecture

European defence plans must not overlook the Western Balkans' role.

"Geography is one of the strongest arguments", say Bojana Zorić (@euiss.bsky.social) and @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social (@carnegieeurope.bsky.social)

#EuropeanDefence #militarymobility #WesternBalkans

newunionpost.eu/2026/02/27/e...

Iceland to hold the EU referendum "in the next few months" The vote in Iceland on "possibly joining the EU" was announced by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir. The date has yet to be decided

#Iceland to hold a referendum on reopening EU accession talks “in the next few months”.

The vote on "possibly joining the EU" was announced by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir. The date has yet to be decided

#EUreferendum #EUaccession

newunionpost.eu/2026/02/26/i...

The EU free roaming area may soon cover the Western Balkans The Commission proposes opening talks with the six partners, allowing people to call, text, and use mobile data in the free roaming area at no extra charge

The Commission pushes for the #WesternBalkans to join the EU’s free roaming area.

The opening of formal talks has been proposed to the Council, which must now authorise negotiations with each partner

#RoamLikeAtHome #freeroaming

newunionpost.eu/2026/02/25/e...

Zelensky wants Ukraine and Belarus to be allies in the EU The president of Ukraine described EU membership as "the right thing" on many levels, if a "free leadership" in the neighbouring country also wants it

#Zelensky wants #Ukraine and #Belarus to be allies within the EU. He described EU membership as "the right thing" on many levels, provided that it reflects the will of the people and of a "free leadership" in the neighbouring country

newunionpost.eu/2026/02/23/z...

Getting an EU visa is not easy for many people in the world The EU visa-free regime for short stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) is granted to only 64 third countries – none in Africa and only a few in Asia

Entering the EU is very difficult for many people in the world. An interactive map

The visa-free regime for short stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) is granted to only 64 third countries – none in Africa and only a few in Asia

#Schengen #Schengenvisa

newunionpost.eu/2026/02/20/e...