The European Commission has adopted a package on pre-accession reviews, setting out the political guidelines and measures necessary for the Union to prepare for future enlargements. It is a document outlining the direction in which the Union must move to be ready to welcome new members.
The Commission President announced this package as part of her 2023 State of the Union address, with the European Council providing the mandate for its development. This has placed the process within a political framework at the highest level.
The proposed measures prepare the Union's management, policies and budget for enlargement. This means that internal structures and financial frameworks must be adjusted so that they can function with a larger number of member states.
Furthermore, the measures strengthen the protection of the Union's values and the rule of law. This highlights that the preparation for enlargement involves not only administrative and budgetary capacity, but also the preservation of the fundamental principles upon which the Union is based.
The enlargement of the EU is described as a strategic investment in peace, security and prosperity for Europe. The package on pre-accession reviews thus serves as a framework linking political guidelines, institutional preparation and the protection of shared values in a single process.
