Luxembourg, October 13 (QNA) - European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to advancing accession talks with Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Moldova, while stressing that prospective members must align strategically with the bloc and contribute to its security.
Kos said four intergovernmental accession conferences involving the candidate countries were scheduled for the coming days, following a decision by EU member states. She noted that this was the third time since June that the bloc had held four such conferences within a single period, describing the development as a clear sign of momentum in the enlargement process.
She said countries at the forefront of the accession process were making tangible progress, adding that Ukraine's participation reflected its exceptional determination to join the European Union.
Kos also stressed that security considerations were becoming increasingly important in the enlargement process, warning that prospective members must strengthen, rather than undermine, the bloc's security.
She said strategic alignment with the EU had become a critical condition for membership, extending beyond foreign and security policy to areas including sanctions, energy and infrastructure. (QNA)