The Associated Trio, political conditionality, and the dynamics of EU enlargement policy

The EU's membership conditionality, known as the Copenhagen criteria, has a history in the enlargement process but shows variation in its consistent application. In 2021, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine formed an Associated Trio, expressing their shared desire to join the EU. In 2022, Ukraine and Moldova were granted candidate status, followed by Georgia in 2023. This paper examines the unique political context, conditionality, and external influences affecting these countries' EU aspirations. It seeks to uncover differences and assess whether the Associated Trio alters the EU enlargement policy dynamics. The study primarily employs qualitative methods within a descriptive and interpretative case study framework, complemented by quantitative data analysis to assess ongoing trends in EU enlargement policy.