Albania was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in June 2003.

In 2009, Albania submitted its formal application for EU membership. In its Opinion on Albania's application (in 2010), the Commission assessed that before accession negotiations could be formally opened, Albania still had to achieve a necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria and in particular to meet the 12 key priorities identified in the Opinion.

In October 2012, Commission recommended that Albania be granted EU candidate status, subject to completion of key measures in the areas of judicial and public administration reform and revision of the parliamentary rules of procedures.

Being a candidate country for EU membership Albania is a member of the Energy Community. It is required to transpose the EU acquis and the Third Energy Package (rules for the internal gas and electricity markets, transmission and interconnections).

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/detailed-country-information/albania/index_en.htm

update February 2016

Membership status

Potential candidate

Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina - along with other Western Balkans countries – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in June 2003.

Since then, a number of agreements between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina have entered into force - visa facilitation and readmission agreements (2008), Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-related issues (2008).

Common Foreign and Security Policy and the European Security and Defence Policy

The EU continues to deploy considerable resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The current EU Special Representative (EUSR), Peter Sorensen, is also Head of the Delegation of the European Union.

The EUFOR/Althea mission continues to be present in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following an improved security situation, EU EUFOR/Althea forces were reduced from 6000 to around 2000. The mandate of the EU Police Mission (EUPM) has been extended until the end of June 2012. The EUPM continues to focus on police reform, as well as the fight against organised crime and corruption.

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/detailed-country-information/bosnia-herzegovina/index_en.htm

Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007, bringing the number of member states to 27 countries.

Membership status

Member country

Background

Croatia applied for EU membership in 2003 and was in negotiations from 2005 until 2011.

On 9 December 2011 leaders from the EU and Croatia signed the accession treaty. After its ratification by all EU countries and Croatia,  the country became the 28th EU member country on 1 July 2013.

Throughout the interim period until the accession, Croatia as an acceding country had active observer status in the European Institutions. The purpose was to allow Croatia to become familiar with the working methods of the EU institutions and to be involved in the decision-making process.

Estonia is an EU member country since 1 May 2004

the country has 6 seats in the European Parliament

Estonia is a member of the eurozone since 1 January 2011

Estonia is a Schengen Area member since 21 December 2007.

Estonia will hold the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in the first half of 2018.

Hungary is an EU member country since 1 May 2004 and has 21 seats in the European Parliament. 

Hungary has a permanent representation in Brussels that ensures a communication with the EU bodies. This representation of the country intends to make sure that the country's interests are well represented in the EU.

Last Update February 2018

Energy Policy and EU Framework

Latvia is an EU member country since 1 May 2004. After examination of all relevant macroeconomic criteria the admission was approved.On 1 January 2014 Latvia joined the eurozone. This means that the EURO replaced Latvian lat and was introduced as new official currency. Latvia is a Schengen Area member since 21 December 2007.Latvia was holding the presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time between the period of 1 January and 30 June in 2015. Since elections in 24 May 2014, Latvia currently has 8 seats in the European Parliament.

Source: Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

European Parliament Website

Lithuania is EU member since May 2004. The country held the presidency of the Council of the EU once in 2013. 11 members of the European Parliament come form Lithuania. The country has a permanent representaton in Brussels through which it communicates with the EU institutions.

Macedonia and the European Union

Macedonia was the first country to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, in 2001. It has been a candidate country for eight years, since the Commission’s positive Opinion in November 2005 and the Council’s decision in December 2005. Since 2009, the Commission has assessed that the country sufficiently meets the political criteria and recommended the opening of negotiations. The Commission has also recommended, since 2009, that the second stage of the association, under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, should begin. No decision has been taken by the Council in either case. Twenty years after the country’s entry into the United Nations, a solution to the name issue should be found without further delay.

The Republic of Macedonia – along with other Western Balkans countries – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in 2003.

Macedonia applied for EU membership in March 2004.

The Commission issued a favourable opinion in November 2005, and the Council decided in December 2005 to grant the country candidate status. In October 2009, the Commission recommended that accession negotiations be opened.

Last update December 2017

EU Energy Framework related to Moldova

In the frame of the Energy Policy Moldova intends to joint ENTSO-E and ENTSO-G and to implement all EU Directives on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Moldova is not among the countries with accession status. Instead Moldova is taking part in the EU Neighbourhood Policy - ENP. Also the ENP has the intention to bring the region closer to the EU.

The new European NEIGHBOURHOOD INSTRUMENT (ENI) with an amount of EUR 15,4 billion for the period 2014-2020 is the main financial instrument for the implementation of th ENP.

One of the instruments to support the development of the ENP are the bilateral ENP Action Plans (AP) that are mutually agreed between the EU and the partner country.

In the frame of the ENI bilateral assistance programme for the period 2014-2017 the amount for assistance for Moldova may range between EUR 335 Million and EUR 410 Million.

Regional cooperation programmes are intended to support Moldova in the areas of transport, energy and environment. The Neighbourhood Investment Facility Programme (NIF) in Moldova targets mainly investments into transport, water and energy.

Source: European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations  

Update April 2017

EU-accession

Montenegro is a candidate country

After separation from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegroe, Montenegro in 2006 became independet. In 2008, the new country applied for EU membership.

In 2010, the Commission issued a favourable opinion on Montenegro's application, and the Council granted its candidate status.

In December 2011, the Council launched the accession process with a view to opening negotiations in June 2012.

Montenegro started accession negotiations with the EU in June 2012 and strives to join by 2020, ahead of the other countries in the Western Balkans. Of the 35 negotiation chapters, two were provisionally closed and 22 were opened. In the latest European Commission (EC) Progress Report on Montenegro issued in November 2015, the EC notes that the country has made good progress towards meeting opening benchmarks for chapters such as agriculture and rural development, energy, employment and social policy, and regional policy and preparation for structural instruments. The report also notes that particular attention needs to be paid to fulfilling the opening benchmarks in chapters such as competition policy and environment and climate change.

Update January 2017

Romania is an EU member country since 1 January 2007.

Romania will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time from July to December 2019.

Membership Status

Candidate

Background

Serbia – along with 5 other Western Balkans countries – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in 2003. In 2008, a European partnership for Serbia was adopted, setting out priorities for the country's membership application, and in 2009 Serbia formally applied. In March 2012 Serbia was granted EU candidate status. In September 2013 a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Serbia entered into force.

In line with the decision of the European Council in June 2013 to open accession negotiations with Serbia, the Council adopted in December 2013 the negotiating framework and agreed to hold the 1st Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia in January 2014.

On 21 January 2014, the 1st Intergovernmental Conference took place, signaling the formal start of Serbia's accession negotiations.

Source: EU Commission

Slovakia is a parliamentary republic and EU member country since 1 May 2004 with 13 seats in the European Parliament. Slovakia will hold the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in 2016. Slovakia held the presidency of the Council of the EU from July to December 2016.

Slovenia is an EU member country since 1 May 2004 and presently has 8 seats in the European Parliament

Membership status

Candidate country

Background

In 1987, Turkey applied to join what was then the European Economic Community, and in 1997 it was declared eligible to join the EU.

Turkey's involvement with European integration dates back to 1959 and includes the Ankara Association Agreement (1963) for the progressive establishment of a Customs Union (ultimately set up in 1995).

Accession negotiations  started in 2005, but until Turkey agrees to apply the Additional Protocol of the Ankara Association Agreement to Cyprus, eight negotiation chapters will not be opened and no chapter will be provisionally closed.

Ukraine became member of the Energy Community in 2011 by signing the Energy Community Treaty that aims to align the country's energy laws with EU legislation.

In 2014, Ukraine, the EU and Euratom ratified an Association Agreement entailing several reforms of the energy sector. The price for the supply of gas and electricity to industrial consumers must solely be determined by supply and demand, dual pricing in the energy sector is forbidden.
In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimea Region of Ukraine. Since then a civil war troubled the eastern part of the country. As a consequence two provinces voted for the separation from Ukraine.

More information on EU and Ukraine

update Feb 2017