EU report rates Ukraine a top candidate for membership

The European Commission named Ukraine one of four countries making the most progress toward joining the European Union on Tuesday. The annual enlargement report, released on November 4, evaluated ten candidate states. Kyiv landed in the top tier alongside Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania.

The Commission described this first group as actively moving toward membership. A second group, including North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, was labeled as effectively stuck. A third group, comprising Serbia, Georgia, and Türkiye, showed regression in certain areas or prolonged blockages.

Brussels acknowledged that Ukraine continues to push through key sectoral changes while at war. The Commission’s press release stated that the country’s institutional framework for fighting corruption remains effective. It noted that specialized anti-corruption bodies continue to operate independently and effectively.

The report listed several areas where Ukraine recorded good progress. These include public administration reform, digital transformation, financial services, customs, energy, agriculture, and science and education. The document also mentioned efforts to develop economic competitiveness.

Despite these gains, the Commission emphasized that substantial work remains. Brussels stressed the need for Kyiv to accelerate judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures. The report highlighted specific commitments outlined in Ukraine’s rule of law roadmap that still require fulfillment.

Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, said earlier that Ukraine plans to continue its integration efforts alongside Moldova. Both nations were placed in the leading group in the new assessment. To support the remaining reforms, Ukraine’s government and the Commission established a joint Task Force.

This body aims to secure approval for draft laws concerning the rule of law and anti-corruption within several months. These are two areas where the Commission flagged the need for faster progress. The enlargement package serves as the bloc’s main benchmark for how close candidate countries are to meeting membership conditions.