On 4 November 2025, the European Commission published the EU Enlargement Package 2025 . The package is a comprehensive set of country reports assessing progress in reforms by candidate, and potential candidate, countries to the European Union. These annual Reports are a key instrument for monitoring reforms and aligning national legislation and practice with EU standards. They also serve as a roadmap for the next steps in the accession process.
Much attention was devoted to Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia – the three Eastern Partnership countries whose European perspectives are shaped by very different political and social contexts.
Ukraine: Steady progress under pressure, with disability inclusion on the agenda
The 2025 Report recognises Ukraine’s remarkable resilience and political determination to stay on the European path despite the ongoing war. Bilateral screening has been completed, and preparations for the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (government’s detailed plan that outlines all the reforms and laws a country must adopt to meet EU standards and move forward in the accession process) – are underway.
The Commission highlights progress in public administration reform, transparency, and digitalisation, as well as in protecting victims of war crimes and implementing the Istanbul Convention.
However, challenges remain in the judiciary and anti-corruption sectors, and concerns persist about ensuring the independence of key institutions. The Report also finds that civil society continues to operate under martial law restrictions but remains active and essential for democratic oversight.
Disability rights focus
Disability inclusion is explicitly mentioned as a priority area for human rights reforms. The Commission notes that Ukraine has taken steps to develop an inclusive environment, including the adoption of a deinstitutionalisation strategy and work on accessibility and rehabilitation reform. Yet, the implementation of these policies remains slow and uneven .
The Report stresses:
“In the coming year, Ukraine should, in particular, continue developing an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities, including by advancing on deinstitutionalisation and, in line with the Ukraine Plan, adopting the legislation on the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.”
Positive developments include new measures to improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, pilot systems for purchasing social services (including for children with disabilities), and ongoing advocacy towards aligning anti-discrimination and accessibility standards with EU law. The remaining challenge, however, is to move from strategies to implementation – ensuring that inclusive reforms reach local and community levels.
Moldova: Consistent reforms and growing attention to social inclusion
The Report finds that Moldova continues to make tangible progress towards EU accession. The Commission commends the transparent 2025 parliamentary elections, judicial reform, and the strengthening of anti-corruption institutions. The adoption of the 2025 – 2029 National Programme for Accession marks an important step towards systematic legislative alignment with the EU acquis.
Disability rights focus
In the field of human rights, IT highlights Moldova’s progress in social inclusion and deinstitutionalisation. It states that the country is finalising the National Social Inclusion Programme for People with Disabilities and advancing reforms of community-based services for adults and children.
Still, the Commission urges Moldova to address the poor conditions and instances of ill-treatment in residential institutions and to accelerate the transition to community-based care. It also highlights the need to ensure sustainable funding and stronger interinstitutional coordination for disability and gender equality programmes. The Commission further advises that strengthened cooperation between the Equality Council and the Ombudsperson’s Office remains key to ensuring real enforcement of anti-discrimination standards.
Georgia: Severe backsliding and repression, including on human rights and disability inclusion
In contrast, Georgia’s 2025 Report documents severe backsliding in democratic governance, rule of law, and fundamental rights. Following the government’s decision to suspend EU accession efforts until 2028, the Report points to a systemic dismantling of democratic institutions, including repressive measures against civil society, independent media, and opposition.
Disability rights focus
According to the 2025 European Commission Report, the legal and institutional framework on the rights of persons with disabilities in Georgia remains insufficient and requires further alignment with the EU acquis:
- persons with disabilities continue to face systemic barriers, compounded by the government’s reliance on the medical model of disability;
- labour market participation remains low;
- inclusive education continues to show serious gaps;
- non-discrimination standards are not aligned with EU requirements.
Obvious, recent legislative amendments weakening Georgia’s equality framework further undermine protections for persons with disabilities, contributing to a broader deterioration of fundamental rights.
Enlargement Reports as an advocacy tool
For civil society across the region, the Enlargement Reports are more than assessments – they are advocacy roadmaps. They provide leverage for dialogue with governments and the EU, allowing activists to track commitments, highlight gaps, and push for reforms that will make EU integration truly inclusive.
As advocates for disability rights, we will use these findings to strengthen our efforts towards harmonising legal standards and practice with the EU’s values of equality, accessibility, and non-discrimination – ensuring that no one is left behind on the path to Europe.
The texts of all Reports you can find on the European Commission website.