New Countries Joining EU by 2030 a Realistic Goal, EU Foreign Policy Chief Says

In Ukraine’s report, the EU said Kyiv has shown ’remarkable resilience and strong commitment to its European path.’

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas addresses a press conference at the Forum Copenhagen in Denmark on Aug. 30, 2025. Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images

The European Commission said on Nov. 4 that the European Union could welcome new member states as early as 2030, as it praised nations including Ukraine and Montenegro for the reforms they have made as part of the accession process.

The EU is an economic-political union currently comprising 27 European countries. Croatia joined most recently, in 2013. The UK left in February 2020, after voting in a 2016 referendum to leave the union.