EU enlargement package postponed to November 4, with roadmaps expected for 4 countries
The date moves by seven days, and nothing has been announced on what the report will say about North Macedonia.
What has changed. The European Commission’s annual enlargement package is postponed from October 28 to November 4, 2026, that is by seven days. This was reported by New Union Post on October 14, citing EU sources, and the new date was given by Commissioner Marta Kos. The reason for the delay is not stated.
What is expected in the package. According to the same text, work continues on defining the strategic areas of “enhanced gradual integration” and on accession roadmaps for Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine. The text says nothing about North Macedonia, so it cannot be said what the report on our country will contain.
Where North Macedonia stood last year. According to an analysis by former foreign minister Nikola Dimitrov on European Western Balkans of November 10, 2025, the report rarely used the “good progress” rating. Only three chapters received it: customs union (29), free movement of capital (4) and foreign, security and defence policy (31). There was no progress in the judiciary and fundamental rights (23), in the fight against corruption and in free movement of goods (1), while public administration and justice, freedom and security (24) showed limited progress. That is a reading of the analysis, not the Commission’s text.
The constitutional amendments. According to the same analysis, the government will not adopt the constitutional changes recognising the Bulgarian population without a guarantee that Bulgaria will not make new demands. Bulgarian officials call the changes “only the first step”, and Skopje seeks reciprocity, meaning implementation of about two dozen European Court of Human Rights rulings on the right of assembly of Macedonians. On October 23 Commissioner Kos again said the constitutional amendment is an obligation.
Trust in the EU. The analysis states that only 40 percent of citizens believe the EU is serious about enlargement. The author concludes that without the constitutional changes and good reform performance, no path forward opens.
What to watch on November 4. First, the ratings by chapter: whether more than three will get “good progress”. Second, the language on the constitutional amendments. Third, whether North Macedonia is mentioned in the part on roadmaps, since the announcement names only four other countries.
What a roadmap is. A roadmap is a plan with steps and deadlines that a candidate country must meet to advance in membership negotiations. The announcement mentions them for four countries, while for the others, North Macedonia among them, the usual annual report with ratings by chapter is expected. That is our interpretation of the announcement, since the text does not explain it in detail.
Timeline. The package was originally scheduled for October 28. On October 14 the postponement was announced. On October 23 Commissioner Kos again said the constitutional amendment is an obligation. The new date is November 4, exactly seven days after the original. Between those dates there is no new information on the content of the report on North Macedonia.
What remains open. It is not known why the date was moved, or what exactly will be written about North Macedonia. Today’s overview is therefore preparation, not an assessment: the real picture arrives when the package is published.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 28, 2026
