Enlargement must strengthen Europe’s security and defend local democracy, EU regions say

Support for mayors imprisoned in Türkiye reflected in award to Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The European Union must treat enlargement as a matter of security and resilience, while ensuring that democratic standards - including at local and regional level - are upheld in every country engaged in the EU accession process, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) said on 5 March.

Meeting in plenary to review the European Commission's assessment of reforms in countries that have sought EU membership, the EU's assembly of local and regional representatives welcomed progress in several candidate countries, notably Ukraine and Moldova, but warned of worrying political tensions in parts of the Western Balkans and serious democratic backsliding in Georgia and Türkiye.

The CoR further reflected its support for local democratic leaders by presenting the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award to Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been held in prison for almost a year that the CoR has condemned as an attack on local democracy.

The debate took place against a backdrop of Russia's continued war against Ukraine, increasing hybrid threats and heightened geopolitical instability. Members stressed that enlargement is no longer only a technical process of legal alignment, but also a strategic necessity for Europe's defence, economic resilience and democratic stability.

Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia

In an opinion drafted by Patrick Molinoz (FR/PES), vice-president of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, the CoR praised Ukraine's determination to pursue reforms and decentralisation despite full-scale war. It welcomed steps taken in July 2025 to restore the independence of anti-corruption institutions and highlighted Ukraine's continued progress in reconstruction and local governance.

At the same time, members warned that martial law has led to centralisation in some areas and insufficient consultation with local authorities. They called for the restoration of democratic mandates at local level once security conditions allow and urged full transparency in the allocation of funds provided under the EU's Ukraine Facility.

The CoR also called for stronger involvement of municipalities and regions in the Ukraine Donor Platform created to support Ukraine's reconstruction, underscoring that local and regional administrations will be a cornerstone of the country's, recovery, reconstruction and preparations for EU membership.

The CoR acknowledged Moldova's sustained reform efforts and the conduct of competitive elections in 2025, despite foreign interference and hybrid pressure. Members nevertheless pointed to persistent administrative fragmentation and urged voluntary amalgamation of municipalities alongside stronger fiscal decentralisation. They called for the Growth Plan for Moldova to be implemented in a way that directly benefits local communities and strengthens administrative capacity at regional and municipal level.

Regarding Georgia, the CoR expressed serious concern about democratic backsliding and described accession negotiations as being in a de facto pause. It noted declining alignment with the EU's foreign and security policy and criticised measures that weaken civil society and political pluralism.

While reaffirming support for Georgia's European aspirations, CoR members stressed that respect for democratic standards, media freedom and local self-governance is essential for progress.

Western Balkans and Türkiye

The European Commission has tightened its conditions linking funding to respect for the rule of law, and concerns about democratic norms, judicial independence and corruption in various areas of the Western Balkans and in Türkiye were evident in an opinion drafted by Gillian Coughlan (IE/RE), member of Cork County Council.

The opinion describes Serbia's accession process as being at a "critical moment" because of a "clear slowdown in reforms central to the rule of law, democratic governance and media freedom" and because of "systematic corruption" and "repression of journalists and civil society actors" and "the suppression of different minorities".

The CoR once again strongly condemned the continued detention of opposition mayors in Türkiye and the systematic replacement of elected local leaders by government-appointed trustees. Members reiterated their request to visit imprisoned local representatives, including Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the CoR warned against secessionist rhetoric and actions that undermine constitutional order.

The opinion welcomes Montenegro's and Albania's continued progress in negotiations but emphasises the need for them to strengthen administrative capacity and local fiscal autonomy.

Members also urged the lifting of EU measures affecting municipalities in Kosovo and called for renewed momentum in North Macedonia's accession process.

Local governance at the heart of enlargement

Across all enlargement countries, the CoR underlined that local and regional governments should be involved early, systematically and in a structured way during the EU integration processes, and that the success of EU accession depends on local and regional administrations having the funding, technical expertise, and administrative capacity to implement reforms and projects. Members called for effective decentralisation and fiscal autonomy at the local level, targeted capacity-building for local administrations, and dedicated support for town-twinning, inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation.

Quotes:

• Patrick Molinoz (FR/PES), vice-president of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region and rapporteur for the 'Enlargement package 2025 - Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia': "After Russia's direct threats and the new policy shifts of the Trump administration, the European security paradigm changed in 2025: it is now clear that our security partly depends on enlargement to the East. In this context, it is more essential than ever to involve local elected representatives, cities and regions more closely, notably to raise citizens' awareness of the strategic importance of enlargement."

• Gillian Coughlan (IE/RE), member of Cork County Council and rapporteur on 'Enlargement package 2025 - Western Balkans and Türkiye: "When we talk about the European Union's future and its expansion to include the Western Balkans and Türkiye, we are not just talking about the accession of countries into a Union; we are talking about the values we uphold, the future we share, and the very survival of the European project in a rapidly changing world. This opinion emphasises that the EU cannot continue making empty promises, it sends a clear message that we all have our role to play and we all need to give in order to receive."

Background:

• Debate: The enlargement debate can be re-watched on the CoR's website. Photos are also available.

• Opinions: 'Enlargement package 2025 - Western Balkans and Türkiye' (rapporteur: Gillian Coughlan) and 'Enlargement package 2025 - Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia' (rapporteur: Patrick Molinoz).

• Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award: On 5 March, during the plenary session, CoR President Kata Tüttő presented the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award to Istanbul's Acting Mayor Nuri Aslan, on behalf of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, who has been held in pre-trial detention for the past year. In a resolution adopted in April 2025, the CoR condemned the arrest of Mayor İmamoğlu and other local leaders as an attack on local democracy (see text and press release); CoR delegations have twice been refused access to Mayor İmamoğlu.

• Ukraine: The CoR is a co-founder of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, for which it serves as the secretariat. The Alliance is encouraging regional and municipal administrations in the EU to forge collaborations with regions and cities in Ukraine. A Training and Internship Programme Support for Ukrainian Municipalities (TIPS4UA), created in 2025 at the instigation of the CoR, has in 2026 been scaled up to include a number of Ukrainian regions. Full details of the CoR's support for Ukraine are available on the CoR's website.

• Enlargement countries: See the CoR's website for further details about the CoR's work with enlargement countries.