The EU Commissioner said that the two countries have fulfilled what all Member States have asked of them. Kos gave an example of the implementation rate of reforms under the Growth Plan for Ukraine and Moldova, which was 87% and 93% respectively. Meanwhile, not a single country in the Western Balkans has reached 50%. Among other things, Ukraine has made specific commitments regarding the Bulgarian and Hungarian minorities, demonstrating that even the most difficult reforms can be implemented, Kos commented.

“We have now a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make enlargement happen. This comes with clear choices. Those who deliver on their commitments advance. We see this most clearly in Montenegro and Albania. Those who do not deliver on their commitments, stall. At moments of acceleration, stalling means de facto regression,” said the Commissioner.

When asked about the accession process guarantees, requested by the government of North Macedonia, Kos replied that there had never been a case where an EU candidate country received guarantees that no other dispute would arise during the accession process until the last member state ratifies the accession treaty. She added that it was important to accept the reality of how the EU enlargement process works.