The President of the European Council, António Costa, said today at the European Union Ambassadors Conference 2026 that the EU must prepare for future enlargement.
“The European Union is a project of reconciliation and peace. These values are closely linked to enlargement, making it the best geostrategic investment we can make for our future,” he said.
Costa stated that from the first day of his mandate he made EU enlargement one of his top priorities.
“As Europe’s most successful long-term strategy, it strengthens democracy and the rule of law. It expands our space of shared values, shared prosperity and shared responsibility,” Costa said.
He emphasized that Ukraine’s application for EU membership has brought a new dynamic and renewed momentum to the European Union’s accession process.
“This moment is not limited only to Ukraine, but also extends to Moldova and to our six partners in the Western Balkans. Their future lies within the European Union, through a merit-based accession process that guarantees the highest standards for everyone,” he stressed.
Costa added that in order to make enlargement a reality in the coming years, decisive steps must be taken.
“We must seize this moment. We must respect the merit-based principle, but also act with a sense of urgency,” said the President of the European Council, António Costa.
