BRUSSELS 

The European Commission on Tuesday stressed that enlargement has become a "geopolitical necessity," and said that the process is moving faster than at any point in the past 15 years.

Speaking after the Informal Meeting of European Affairs Ministers in Copenhagen, Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre said enlargement is now viewed in a new light, linked directly to Europe's security and stability.

"It has gained a new momentum. It's not just something that is relevant. We need to move on with enlargement. It is a geopolitical necessity, because we need to have a stronger EU, a more secure EU, an EU that is capable of defending itself, and enlargement is essential for that future," she said.

Bjerre underlined that the war in Ukraine and political shifts in the US make enlargement "more important today, perhaps than ever before," adding that a stronger EU must be able to defend itself.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said the talks placed enlargement "at the top of Europe's agenda," stressing that it is also about "the unification of Europe."

"My message today is that the doors of our union are open, and those doors will stay open for those who meet the Copenhagen criteria fully, fairly and also transparently. I am also optimistic. And things are moving faster than at any point in the last 15 years," she added.

She pointed to Montenegro and Albania as "front-runners" and noted that Ukraine and Moldova are close to completing the screening process across all negotiation clusters.

Currently, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine are official EU candidate countries. Georgia was also granted candidate status in 2023, while Kosovo is recognized as a potential candidate.