Statement by the EESC President on the European Commission’s ‘Preparing for a wider Union' Communication

I welcome the European Commission’s Communication ‘Preparing for a wider Union’ as an important contribution to ensuring that the European Union is institutionally, politically and financially prepared for future accessions.

The European Economic and Social Committee is a long-standing advocate of EU enlargement, which we consider to be a strategic investment in peace, democracy, security and prosperity across the continent. 

In line with the Communication, the Committee emphasises that enlargement begins well before membership, through a process of gradual integration which enables candidate countries to participate progressively in EU policies, programmes and structures. 

The EESC’s Enlargement Candidate Members (ECM) initiative provides a concrete example of gradual integration in practice. This enables representatives of social partners and civil society organisations from candidate countries to contribute, alongside Committee members, to the drafting of selected EESC opinions. This brings the perspectives of candidate countries into the Committee’s work while also strengthening their understanding of EU policymaking. It helps build mutual trust and ownership of the European project and demonstrates that the process can bring benefits to both current and future Member States. 

Respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights must remain at the heart of the enlargement process. Building on its experience of country visits to EU Member States, the EESC extended its Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law missions to candidate countries in 2024. Through direct exchanges with social partners and civil society organisations on the ground, these visits provide valuable insight into democratic developments, the rule of law, civic space and social dialogue, while bringing the realities of candidate countries closer to EU policymakers. 

Civil society must be at the heart of European democracy, and of course also at the heart of enlargement. I therefore welcome the Communication's recognition, in line with the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society, that civic space in Member States and enlargement countries forms a shared democratic space and that a vibrant civil society is essential for progress towards accession. Social partners and civil society organisations are vital in democratic reform, social cohesion and resilience, and their structured participation should be strengthened throughout the enlargement process, including in the implementation of reform agendas.

Preparing for a wider Union must not be limited to institutions, policies and budgets. It is a societal project. Enlargement succeeds when both the EU and future Member States are institutionally ready, and when citizens, workers, businesses and civil society organisations are meaningfully engaged in shaping a common European future. Our Committee, as a bridge between civil society and EU institutions, stands ready to continue to actively contribute to translating this commitment into practice.  

We look forward to the 2026 Enlargement Package, including the roadmaps for the four frontrunners in the EU accession process, to be published by the European Commission later this month.