The EU Council's Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession will meet on 6 March 2026 to discuss accession negotiations with Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia, and a Commission proposal to extend the 'Roam Like at Home' regime to the Western Balkans, according to a provisional agenda published on 3 March.
The meeting will address a draft EU Common Position on Chapter 21 (Trans-European networks) for Montenegro's accession talks, marking progress in aligning Montenegro with EU infrastructure standards. The working party will also prepare the 15th EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Committee meeting, which reviews bilateral cooperation.
Roaming extension to Western Balkans A key item is the European Commission's proposal to extend the EU's 'Roam Like at Home' rules to Western Balkans partners through individual roaming agreements. If adopted, this would allow citizens from the EU and participating Western Balkan countries to use mobile phones abroad without additional charges, reducing costs for travelers and fostering regional integration.
Albania and North Macedonia progress For Albania, the working party will examine the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) on Cluster 1 – Fundamentals, which assesses Albania's progress on rule of law, public administration reform, and economic criteria. This assessment is critical for advancing Albania's accession negotiations.
Regarding North Macedonia, the agenda includes preparation for the 20th EU-North Macedonia Sub-committee on Justice, Freedom and Security, which monitors reforms in judiciary, anti-corruption, and migration management.
Impact and next steps The meeting advances the EU's enlargement agenda by addressing technical chapters and monitoring candidate countries' reforms. The roaming proposal, if approved by the Council and European Parliament, would enhance connectivity and reduce costs for citizens. The working party's recommendations will feed into subsequent Council decisions and formal accession negotiations.
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