Paket mjera za proširenje za 2025. - zapadni Balkan i Turska

- reaffirms its support for the merit-based accession of the Western Balkans and Türkiye, while stressing that accession must be firmly grounded in democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; emphasises that gradual integration can make the EU more tangible to citizens in negotiating countries, improving their daily lives and fostering engagement and trust throughout what can be a lengthy journey towards EU membership;

- calls on the European Commission to ensure that pre-accession funding instruments include dedicated calls to support town-twinning, inter-municipal and inter-regional cooperation between local and regional authorities in EU Member States and enlargement countries; underlines that concrete partnerships, peer-to-peer cooperation, cultural exchanges, study visits, joint pilot projects and the transfer of good practices in local development, public services, territorial planning and governance are effective means to bring the European Union closer to citizens, strengthen mutual trust and enhance administrative capacity and preparedness for EU accession at local and regional level;

- recalls that the European Committee of the Regions awarded the Paweł Adamowicz Award 2025 to the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, in recognition of his commitment to democratic values, local self-government and inclusive governance; underlines that this award reflects the Committee’s continued support for democratically elected local and regional representatives and for the protection of local democracy as a core European value.