View source for European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

{{Short description|Member of the EU Commission}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Politics of the European Union}}
The '''Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement''' is the member of the [[European Commission]] in charge of overseeing the [[Enlargement of the European Union|accession process of prospective new member states]] and [[European Neighbourhood Policy|relations with those bordering the]] European Union (EU). The present commissioner, as of December 2019, is [[Olivér Várhelyi]].

Currently there are eight candidate countries, namely [[Albania]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Moldova]], [[Montenegro]], [[North Macedonia]], [[Serbia]], [[Turkey]], and [[Ukraine]]. Two countries are recognised as potential candidates, namely [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Kosovo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU membership, how to join, candidates{{!}} European Union |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/joining-eu_en |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=european-union.europa.eu |language=en |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229112609/https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/joining-eu_en |url-status=dead }}</ref> Candidate status was most recently granted to Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Council conclusions, 15 December 2022 |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/12/15/european-council-conclusions-15-december-2022/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=European Council |language=en}}</ref> and a so-called "European Perspective" recognising a country as a potential candidate to Georgia in June 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Council conclusions, 23-24 June 2022 |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/24/european-council-conclusions-23-24-june-2022/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=European Council |language=en}}</ref>  Neighbourhood Policy is directed towards the [[Balkans#Western Balkans|western Balkans]], those countries on the EU's eastern borders, often referred to as the [[Eastern Partnership]] or the accession trio, and on the coast of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], referred to as the Southern Neighbourhood and often engaged with in the format of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]].

==Rehn==
[[Olli Rehn]] became a [[European Commissioner|European commissioner]] in 2004, following the enlargement to 10 new countries. In 2007 he oversaw the accession of [[Romanian membership of the European Union|Romania]] and [[Bulgarian membership of the European Union|Bulgaria]] to the European Union. In 2004, candidate status was granted to [[Croatia]]. In 2005, candidate status was granted to [[North Macedonia|Macedonia]].

As commissioner, Rehn was involved with the enlargement to the [[Balkans#Western Balkans|western Balkans]] and [[Turkey]], encouraging reform on those countries. 2006 saw the independence of [[Montenegro]] and separate accession talks starting with it.

In 2007 he welcomed the [[United Nations]] proposal on [[Kosovo]] by [[Martti Ahtisaari]] which advocated for near-independence to the region and separate accession negotiations with the European Union.

The then-commissioner had also been involved in the [[Cyprus problem|reunification of Cyprus]], bringing [[Northern Cyprus]] to the European Union. Rehn's head of cabinet was Timo Pesonen and his deputy head was Maria Åsenius.

==Füle==

[[2013 enlargement of the European Union|Croatia acceded to the Union]] in 2013.

==List of commissioners==
The [[Enlargement of the European Union|enlargement]] portfolio began to be created out of the regionalised foreign policy posts. In particular the [[Santer Commission]] post for relations with central and eastern Europe as those countries began applying to join. The Neighbourhood Policy element was created in 2004 as part of the External Relations portfolio. When that portfolio was absorbed by the High Representative in 2009, Neighbourhood Policy was transferred to Trade and then to Enlargement in 2010 under the Second [[Barroso Commission]].

{| class="wikitable".
!colspan=3| Commissioner
!Country
!Period
!Party
!Commission
|- 
| style="background-color: {{party color|Party of European Socialists}}" |
| [[File:Oliver Mark - Günter Verheugen, Berlin 2007.jpg|60px]]
| [[Günter Verheugen]]
| {{Flag|Germany}}
| {{center|1999–2004}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Prodi Commission]]
|-
|width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" |
| [[File: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|60px]]
| [[Janez Potočnik]]
| {{Flag|Slovenia}}
| {{center|2004}}
|[[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe|ALDE]]
| [[Prodi Commission]]
|-
|width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" |
| [[File:Olli Rehn-2.jpg|60px]]
| [[Olli Rehn]]
| {{Flag|Finland}}
| {{center|2004–2010}}
|[[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe|ALDE]]
| [[Barroso Commission]] 
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Party of European Socialists}}" |
| [[File:Stefan File (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[Štefan Füle]]
| {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
| {{center|2010–2014}}
| [[Party of European Socialists|PES]]
| [[Barroso Commission]] 
|-
|width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|European People's Party}}" |
| [[File:Johannes Hahn 2014.jpg|60px]]
| [[Johannes Hahn]]
| {{Flag|Austria}}
| {{center|2014–2019}}
| [[European People's Party|EPP]]
| [[Juncker Commission]]
|-
|width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|European People's Party}}" |
| [[File:P059940-285661 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[Olivér Várhelyi]]
| {{Flag|Hungary}}
| {{center|2019–present}}
| [[European People's Party|EPP]]
|[[Von der Leyen Commission]]
|}

==See also==
*[[Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations]]
*[[Enlargement of the European Union]]
*[[Foreign relations of the European Union]]
*[[European Union Association Agreement]]
*[[Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area]]

==External links==
* [https://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_2004-2009/index_en.htm The members of the Barosso Commission (2004–2009) website]
* [https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/index_en European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) website]
* [https://www.euractiv.com/section/central-europe/news/rehn-warns-of-chaos-in-kosovo-if-un-plan-fails/ Rehn warns of 'chaos' in Kosovo if UN plan fails] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609171102/http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/rehn-warns-chaos-kosovo-un-plan-fails/article-162678 |date=9 June 2011 }}

==References==
<references />


{{CommissionPortfolios}}
{{EU countries and candidates}}
{{Foreign relations of the European Union 2}}

[[Category:Portfolios in the European Commission|Enlargement]]
[[Category:Enlargement of the European Union|Commissioner]]