EU removes reference to slowing reforms in Ukraine from enlargement report

The journalists compared the final communiqué, presented by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos to the European Parliament, with a draft released the previous week.

“Reforms continued gradually throughout the reporting period, with the pace of reforms accelerating recently,” the final communiqué says.

According to RFE/RL, the previous version of the document was significantly less favorable toward Ukraine. It said that Ukrainian reforms “continued, but at a slower pace” during the reporting period.

The European Commission also expanded its assessment of Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts in the final version of the communiqué, providing more detail about the country’s achievements.

“Anti-corruption bodies continued to increase the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions in high-level corruption cases, although some priority legislative reforms needed to strengthen the fight against corruption remain outstanding,” the document says.

The commission also provided more detail on Ukraine’s progress in judicial reform.

“Ukraine has made progress in vetting the integrity of candidates and appointing those who passed the vetting process to the highest judicial bodies and the Constitutional Court,” the communiqué says.

At the same time, EU officials said Montenegro remains the country closest to joining the bloc. The commission believes Montenegro could complete its accession negotiations by the end of 2026.