European Commissioner for Enlargement

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European Commissioner for Enlargement
Flag of the European Union.svg
Kos EC Portrait 2024.jpg
Incumbent
Marta Kos
since 1 December 2024
European Commission
Member ofEuropean Commission
Reports to President of the European Commission
Term length 5 years
Formation1999
First holder Günter Verheugen

The EuropeanCommissioner for Enlargement [a] is a member of the European Commission responsible for overseeing the accession process of prospective new member states of the European Union (EU) and leading the Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST).

Contents

As of 2025, there are nine official candidate countries for EU membership: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. In addition, Kosovo is recognized as a potential candidate. [1] Bosnia and Herzegovina was most recently granted candidate status in December 2022. [2]

Since 2024, the Commissioner’s responsibilities have been limited strictly to enlargement policy and the Eastern Neighbourhood, following the creation of a separate Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA), led by the newly created Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Previously, the role also covered relations with the EU’s southern neighbourhood through the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The current Commissioner is Marta Kos, who has held the office in the von der Leyen II Comission since 1 December 2024.

History

Günter Verheugen (1999–2004) was the first Commissioner to hold responsibility for Enlargement. His tenure oversaw the preparations for the historic 2004 enlargement, which brought ten new countries into the European Union: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Olli Rehn (2004–2010) succeeded Verheugen, and supervised the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007, the granting of candidate status to Croatia (2004) and North Macedonia (2005), and the opening of accession talks with Montenegro following its independence in 2006. He was also active in negotiations related to Turkey’s candidacy and the status of Kosovo.

Štefan Füle (2010–2014) followed Rehn. Füle’s most notable achievement was overseeing the accession of Croatia in 2013, making it the EU’s 28th member state. His mandate also placed strong emphasis on the Eastern Partnership and the EU’s relations with countries on its eastern borders.

Johannes Hahn (2014–2019) took office as the enlargement agenda slowed. During his term, accession negotiations with the Western Balkans remained the central focus, while relations with Turkey became increasingly strained.

Olivér Várhelyi (2019–2024) served during a period when the enlargement process regained strategic importance, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Under his tenure, Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were granted candidate status in 2022.

Marta Kos (2024–present) was appointed on 1 December 2024.

List of Commissioners

No.PortraitNameTermPartyCommissionMember state
EuropeanNational
1 Oliver Mark - Gunter Verheugen, Berlin 2007.jpg Günter Verheugen 1999–2004 PES SPD Prodi Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
* [b] Janez Potocnik, EU-kommissionar inom forskning pa Nordiska ministerradets konferens Investing in Research and Innovation - Exchanging European Experiences in a Nordic Context, Kopenhamn 2006-10-17.jpg Janez Potočnik 2004 ALDE LDS Prodi Flag of Slovenia.svg
Slovenia
2 Olli Rehn-2.jpg Olli Rehn 2004–2010 ALDE C Barroso IFlag of Finland.svg
Finland
3 Stefan File (cropped).jpg Štefan Füle 2010–2014 PES SOCDEM Barroso IIFlag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic
4 40 years of EPP family (27305452091) (cropped).jpg Johannes Hahn 2014–2019 EPP ÖVP Juncker Flag of Austria.svg
Austria
5 P059940-285661 (cropped).jpg Olivér Várhelyi 2019–2024Independent [c] Von der Leyen I Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
6 Kos EC Portrait 2024 (cropped).jpg Marta Kos 2024–presentIndependent Von der Leyen II Flag of Slovenia.svg
Slovenia

See also

Notes

  1. Previously European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
  2. Served concurrently with Günter Verheugen in a transitional capacity following Slovenia’s accession to the EU.
  3. Associated with Fidesz

References

  1. "EU enlargement - European Union". european-union.europa.eu. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  2. "European Council conclusions, 15 December 2022". European Council. Retrieved 25 January 2023.