EU drafts phased accession roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Montenegro

September 28, 2026 at 03:26 AM1 min

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The European Union is preparing separate roadmaps with phased accession plans for Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro, Politico reported citing two senior European Commission officials. The documents will set specific requirements and indicative timelines for completing negotiations. The four countries are considered the most advanced candidates, but accession talks remain slow and no membership dates have been set.

Key Facts

The European Commission is preparing separate roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro, according to two senior officials cited by Politico.
The roadmaps will set specific requirements and indicative timelines for completing accession negotiations.
The four countries are considered the most advanced EU candidates, but accession talks remain slow and no membership dates have been set.
European officials have expressed growing frustration with the slow pace of reforms in Ukraine, according to Euractiv.

Roadmap Preparation

The European Union is considering creating separate roadmaps with phased accession plans for four candidate countries: Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania. Politico reported the initiative citing two senior European Commission officials involved in preparing the documents. The roadmaps will define specific requirements for each country and indicative timelines for completing the negotiation process. Candidate countries will be able to advance toward membership if they implement the necessary reforms.

Candidate Status

Ukraine and the three other countries are considered the most advanced contenders for EU membership. Negotiations on their accession are proceeding slowly, and no precise membership dates have been determined. Euractiv previously reported growing dissatisfaction within the EU over the slow pace of reforms in Ukraine. European officials are said to be increasingly irritated by the lack of progress on Ukrainian reforms.