European Commission Directorate-General to focus on Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood
From 1 February, the European Commission has a Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) responsible for enlargement and accession negotiations with candidate and potential candidate countries to join the European Union. This also includes communication on the benefits of enlargement in EU Member States and in enlargement partners.
Regional cooperation and regional initiatives including gradual integration of candidate countries as they work to join the Union is another important task of DG ENEST. This DG will also manage most of the EU’s financial and technical assistance to enlargement partners and to the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood countries, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. In addition, the DG will deliver continued and sustained support for Ukraine and continue the work on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction and host the Ukraine Donor Platform.
Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said peace, freedom and prosperity on the European continent depended on the strength, unity and size of the European Union.
“This is the essence of our Enlargement policy. For the first time in 10 years, there is a realistic prospect that during this mandate, we can bring one or more countries to the finish line of negotiations,” Marta Kos said. “The road ahead will be challenging, but I am pleased that with the new Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood I will have a dedicated team, driven by knowledge and commitment, to support me in helping future Member States implement the necessary reforms to prepare their place inside our Union.”
The creation of this Directorate-General was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the presentation of the College of Commissioners in September 2024, with a formal Commission decision taken at the start of the mandate in December 2024.
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