Executive Summary

EU enlargement has long been one of the Union’s most powerful instruments for shaping Europe’s future. More than a technical process, it has served as a catalyst for peace, stability, democracy, and economic growth across the continent. Rooted in the Treaty on European Union and guided by the Copenhagen Criteria, enlargement is not automatic it is conditional, merit-based, and driven by the commitment of candidate countries to embrace reforms while navigating a complex institutional framework involving the European Council, the European Commission, the Council of the EU, and specialized bodies such as COREPER and COELA.

This new handbook brings clarity to that complexity. Written with a focus on North Macedonia, it provides negotiators and civil servants with a practical roadmap through the accession process. It explains not only the legal and institutional rules, but also the evolving dynamics that now shape enlargement in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has made enlargement an urgent strategic necessity, prompting the EU to accelerate its engagement with the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. New support mechanisms  such as the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the Ukraine Facility, and Moldova’s Reform and Growth Plan  are designed to deliver tangible benefits well before full membership is achieved.

The handbook also highlights how the process itself has changed. The 2020 Enhanced Methodology introduced a “fundamentals first” approach, requiring rule of law, democratic governance and economic reforms to be frontloaded and sustained throughout negotiations. Chapters of EU law are now grouped into six thematic clusters, allowing for more strategic progress, while reversibility measures ensure that commitments are upheld.

For North Macedonia, this is not just theory  it is the reality of the country’s EU path. Although the screening process concluded in 2023, the opening of negotiation clusters depends on key constitutional reforms and continued progress on fundamental benchmarks. This decisive moment underlines both the challenges and the opportunities of enlargement.

Beyond institutional procedures, the handbook emphasizes the deeper meaning of EU accession: a stronger economy, greater geopolitical security, more modern governance and a better quality of life for citizens. At the same time, it reminds us that success requires sustained reforms at home and careful adaptation within the EU itself to remain ready for new members.

By bringing together history, procedures, and best practices, the handbook is both a reference and a guide for action. It equips North Macedonia’s negotiators and civil servants to engage with confidence, ensuring that the country’s European perspective is transformed into a shared reality.