European Commission announces membership plan for advanced candidates

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a forthcoming plan for the most advanced candidate countries to join the European Union. Emphasizing that the process will remain merit-based and that adherence to European values is non-negotiable, she highlighted the importance of the European idea in regions such as Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.

Separately, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola suggested that countries like Australia and New Zealand could potentially pursue associative membership with the EU, following the model of Canada. Metsola noted that while technical discussions are in the early stages, such cooperation could deepen trade relations and address shared regulatory issues, including access to critical raw materials and social media protections. This comes as Canada explores stronger ties with the EU amid trade tensions with the United States.