Kandidaat-lidstaten
| Land | Status | Aanvraag ingediend | Kandidaat sinds | Onderhandelingen sinds | Geopende clusters | Status (hoofdstukken) | Bevolking (mln.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albanië | in onderhandeling | apr 2009 | jun 2014 | jul 2022 | 6 / 6 | 33 van 33 hoofdstukken geopend, 4 afgesloten | 2,3 |
| Bosnië en Herzegovina | kandidaat, nog geen onderhandelingen | 15 feb 2016 | 15 dec 2022 | – | – / 6 | nog geen hoofdstukken geopend | 3,1 |
| Georgië | bevroren | 3 mrt 2022 | 14 dec 2023 | – | – / 6 | nog geen hoofdstukken geopend | 3,9 |
| Moldavië | in onderhandeling | 3 mrt 2022 | 23 jun 2022 | 25 jun 2024 | 4 / 6 | 24 van 33 hoofdstukken geopend, 0 afgesloten | 2,4 |
| Montenegro | in onderhandeling | 15 dec 2008 | 17 dec 2010 | 29 jun 2012 | – / 6 | 33 van 33 hoofdstukken geopend, 21 afgesloten | 0,6 |
| Noord-Macedonië | in onderhandeling, deels geblokkeerd | 22 mrt 2004 | 16 dec 2005 | jul 2022 | 0 / 6 | 0 van 33 hoofdstukken geopend, 0 afgesloten | 1,8 |
| Servië | in onderhandeling, deels geblokkeerd | 22 dec 2009 | 1 mrt 2012 | 21 jan 2014 | 2 / 6 | 22 van 33 hoofdstukken geopend, 2 afgesloten | 6,5 |
| Turkije | bevroren | 14 apr 1987 | dec 1999 | 3 okt 2005 | – / 6 | 16 van 33 hoofdstukken geopend, 1 afgesloten | 85,9 |
| Oekraïne | in onderhandeling | 28 feb 2022 | 23 jun 2022 | 25 jun 2024 | 4 / 6 | 24 van 33 hoofdstukken geopend, 0 afgesloten | 39,0 |
| Kosovo | potentiële kandidaat | 15 dec 2022 | – | – | – / 6 | nog geen hoofdstukken geopend | 1,6 |
afgeslotengeopend, nog niet afgeslotennog niet geopendWijs een balk aan voor de aantallen
Albanië · in onderhandeling
Laatste stap (13 okt 2026): Accession conference in Luxembourg provisionally closed Chapter 20 (enterprise and industrial policy), bringing the total to 4 of 33 chapters provisionally closed.
Volgende stap (4 nov 2026): 2026 Enlargement Package with an announced indicative accession roadmap for Albania; government aims to conclude negotiations by end-2027 (ambition, not an EU decision).
All six clusters were opened between 15 Oct 2024 and 17 Nov 2025 (EP); the Commission page gives November or December 2025 for cluster 5. Interim benchmarks for cluster 1 were confirmed as met on 26 May 2026; the Chapter 20 conference is dated 13 or 14 Oct 2026 depending on the source (Commission: 13 Oct). The EP gives 24 Apr 2009 as application date, the Commission only April 2009.
Bronnen: European Commission – Albania country page · European Parliament resolution on the 2025 Commission report on Albania · European Western Balkans – Albania provisionally closes Chapter 20 · New Union Post – Enlargement Package moved to 4 November
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026 · Geopende / afgesloten hoofdstukken: 13 okt 2026
Bosnië en Herzegovina · kandidaat, nog geen onderhandelingen
Laatste stap (mrt 2026): The Constitutional Court annulled the House of Representatives' decision establishing the chief negotiator's office and gave parliament six months to regulate it; the appointment is a precondition for the first IGC.
Volgende stap: Council adoption of the negotiating framework and first IGC once the steps of the Commission's 2022 recommendation are met (incl. judicial laws, chief negotiator); no date set.
The European Council decided in March 2024 to open negotiations, but the negotiating framework has not been adopted and no IGC has taken place. After the 4 Oct 2026 elections the EU on 6 Oct 2026 urged swift government formation and completion of the outstanding steps.
Bronnen: European Commission – Bosnia and Herzegovina country page · European Parliament resolution on the 2025 Commission report on Bosnia and Herzegovina · EEAS – Joint statement Kallas/Kos on the general elections · European Western Balkans – Constitutional Court calls for law on chief negotiator
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026
Georgië · bevroren
Laatste stap (6 okt 2026): A Commission working document accompanying the pre-enlargement policy reviews described the accession process as 'de facto halted'; Commissioner Kos called Georgia a candidate 'only on paper'.
Volgende stap (4 nov 2026): Country report in the 2026 Enlargement Package; the suspension of visa-free travel for diplomatic and service passport holders runs until 6 Mar 2027.
The European Council concluded in June and October 2024 that the process is de facto halted; the Georgian government suspended it until 2028 in late 2024. Candidate status has not been formally withdrawn; since 6 Mar 2026 visa-free travel no longer applies to diplomatic, service and official passports.
Bronnen: European Commission – Georgia country page · European Parliament resolution on the 2025 Commission report on Georgia · EEAS – Commission suspends visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic/service/official passports · JAMnews – EU prepares to expand without Georgia
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026
Moldavië · in onderhandeling
Laatste stap (13 okt 2026): Accession conference opened cluster 2 (internal market) and cluster 3 (competitiveness and inclusive growth), together 17 chapters.
Volgende stap (dec 2026): Irish Council presidency aims to open clusters 4 and 5 by December 2026 (announced, not decided); accession roadmap due with the Enlargement Package on 4 Nov 2026.
Opened: cluster 1 on 15 Jun 2026, cluster 6 on 14 Jul 2026, clusters 2 and 3 on 13 Oct 2026; 24 of 33 chapters per New Union Post (5+2+9+8 chapters), no Commission or Council source states the total. The Commission page still lists one opened cluster (outdated). Provisional chapter closures require a positive interim benchmark assessment (IBAR) on cluster 1.
Bronnen: European Commission – Moldova country page · European Western Balkans – Ukraine and Moldova open Fundamentals cluster · European Western Balkans – Ukraine and Moldova open cluster 6 · Brussels Times – Moldova opens internal market and competitiveness clusters · New Union Post – Ukraine and Moldova nine chapters away
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026 · Geopende / afgesloten hoofdstukken: 13 okt 2026
Montenegro · in onderhandeling
Laatste stap (12 okt 2026): Accession conference in Luxembourg provisionally closed chapters 17 (economic and monetary policy), 18 (statistics) and 19 (social policy and employment); 21 of 33 in total.
Volgende stap (4 nov 2026): Accession roadmap in the 2026 Enlargement Package; government aims to complete negotiations by end-2026 and join in 2028 (ambition, not an EU decision).
All 33 chapters are open; no cluster count is given because the chapters were opened before the revised methodology. The Commission page still states 16 closed chapters (June 2026 level, also cited by the EP on 17 Jun 2026); 2 more were closed in July and 3 in October. Interim benchmarks for chapters 23/24 were confirmed as met in June 2024.
Bronnen: European Commission – Montenegro country page · European Parliament resolution on the 2025 Commission report on Montenegro · European Western Balkans – Three more chapters closed · New Union Post – Enlargement Package moved to 4 November
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026 · Geopende / afgesloten hoofdstukken: 12 okt 2026
Noord-Macedonië · in onderhandeling, deels geblokkeerd
Laatste stap (17 jun 2026): The European Parliament's resolution on the 2025 report called for the constitutional amendments that would allow the first cluster to open; there has been no new negotiating step on the EU side since July 2022.
Volgende stap: Second IGC and opening of cluster 1 after adoption of the constitutional amendment (inclusion of Bulgarians in the preamble); no date set.
The first IGC took place in July 2022 and screening ended in December 2023, but no cluster has been opened. The blockage concerns the constitutional amendment required by the Council conclusions of 18 Jul 2022; Foreign Minister Mucunski said on 24 Jul 2026 the path remains blocked.
Bronnen: European Commission – North Macedonia country page · European Parliament resolution on the 2025 Commission report on North Macedonia · BTA – Mucunski says North Macedonia's EU path remains blocked
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026 · Geopende / afgesloten hoofdstukken: 25 okt 2026
Servië · in onderhandeling, deels geblokkeerd
Laatste stap (8 jul 2026): EU ambassadors failed to reach unanimity on opening cluster 3; eight member states opposed despite a renewed Commission recommendation.
Volgende stap: Possible Council decision to open cluster 3 (competitiveness and inclusive growth); recommended by the Commission, no date set.
No cluster or chapter has been opened since December 2021 (cluster 4); the figures 22 opened/2 provisionally closed are the Commission's as of December 2021. On 8 Jul 2026 the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Croatia opposed cluster 3 (rule of law, non-alignment with sanctions).
Bronnen: European Commission – Serbia country page · Euronews – Eight member states oppose opening of Serbia's next cluster · N1 – Starović: Serbia still blocked on cluster 3
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026 · Geopende / afgesloten hoofdstukken: dec 2021
Turkije · bevroren
Laatste stap (30 jun 2026): Foreign Minister Fidan met Kallas, Kos and Brunner in Ankara: joint statement on the customs union, SEPA and further high-level dialogues; no step in the accession negotiations.
Volgende stap: Further high-level dialogues (economy, migration, health, science, agriculture) preferably before end-2026; no negotiating step announced.
According to the Council, negotiations have been at a standstill since 2018. Of 16 opened chapters one (science and research) is provisionally closed; the Commission phrases this as '15 open and 1 provisionally closed'. No cluster figure applies, as Türkiye does not negotiate under the 2020 methodology.
Bronnen: European Commission – Türkiye country page · Directorate for EU Affairs (Türkiye) – History of Türkiye-EU relations · European Parliament resolution on the 2025 Commission report on Türkiye · Türkiye MFA – Joint statement, Ankara
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026 · Geopende / afgesloten hoofdstukken: 9 aug 2024
Oekraïne · in onderhandeling
Laatste stap (13 okt 2026): Accession conference opened cluster 2 (internal market, 9 chapters) and cluster 3 (competitiveness and inclusive growth, 8 chapters).
Volgende stap (dec 2026): Irish Council presidency aims to open clusters 4 and 5 by December 2026 (announced, not decided); accession roadmap due with the Enlargement Package on 4 Nov 2026.
Opened: cluster 1 on 15 Jun 2026 (after Hungary dropped its veto), cluster 6 on 14 Jul 2026, clusters 2 and 3 on 13 Oct 2026; the total of 24 chapters is stated by New Union Post and matches 5+2+9+8. Provisional chapter closures require a positive interim benchmark assessment (IBAR) on cluster 1.
Bronnen: European Commission – Ukraine country page · European Commission – EU opens negotiations with Ukraine on internal market, competitiveness and inclusive growth · European Western Balkans – Ukraine and Moldova open Fundamentals cluster · European Western Balkans – Ukraine and Moldova open cluster 6 · New Union Post – Ukraine and Moldova nine chapters away
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026 · Geopende / afgesloten hoofdstukken: 13 okt 2026
Kosovo · potentiële kandidaat
Laatste stap (15 mrt 2026): The Commission confirmed in the EP Foreign Affairs Committee that it had released all financial aid for Kosovo blocked under the 2023 measures.
Volgende stap: Council referral of the membership application to the Commission for an opinion; called for by the EP on 17 Jun 2026, no date set.
The application of 15 Dec 2022 has not been referred by the Council to the Commission; five member states do not recognise Kosovo. According to the Commission, the 2023 measures were lifted by March 2026; no formal Council decision on this was found.
Bronnen: European Commission – Kosovo country page · European Parliament resolution on the 2025 Commission report on Kosovo · Beta Briefing – EU measures against Kosovo lifted
onderzocht op 25 okt 2026