Kos: Membership negotiations with Montenegro, Albania could be closed within years

She made these comments by speaking at a hearing at the European Parliament (PE), where she has answered MPs' questions on the EP's foreign policy commission.

Kos hopes to get the commission's consent to appointing him to the commission post for enlargement.

She said during the hearing that it would be “dedicated to” to accelerating the enlargement process and that she would maintain in principle the position that candidate countries should membership on the basis of merits and meeting reforms and conditions for membership.

For the first time in ten years, there is a real opportunity to approach one or two countries towards the end of the negotiations process. It could happen that we could complete negotiations with Montenegro, close all chapters by the end of 2026. With Albania until 2027”, she said.

Montenegro has opened all negotiating chapters and provisionally closed 3. After several years of stagnation, this country has resumed negotiations in June of this year and is now working towards closing them.

On the other hand, Albania opened the first chapter of membership negotiations with the European Union on 15 October

Kos stressed that during its mandate, if appointed, it would insist that the EU also keep its promises to the countries in the enlargement process.

But, it is not clear whether Kos will be appointed, as, according to Radio Free Europe sources at the EP, it is believed that it could be one of the candidates who could be voted not to be appointed commissionary for enlargement.

She was nominated for the post in September by European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyeen. If confirmed, Kos will replace him in this, except Oliver Varhely.