EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos calls 2026 the year of enlargement

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos highlighted Moldova as “the best performer in my class” and described 2026 as “the year of the enlargement,” underscoring the momentum the European Union is experiencing in its accession process.

The EU has undergone seven waves of enlargement since 1973, with the most recent accession of Croatia in 2013, and no new members are expected before 2028, roughly 15 years after Croatia joined. Nevertheless, 2026 is on track to become a record year for opening and closing new chapters for existing applicant countries, according to Commissioner Kos.