At a recent summit in Montenegro, European Union leaders underscored the importance of revitalizing the bloc’s approach to enlargement by advocating for a more efficient and credible process of admitting new members. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted the necessity for the EU to demonstrate its readiness and capability to expand, particularly emphasizing the inclusion of Western Balkan countries. Merz pointed out that no new nations have joined the EU in over a decade, which underscores the urgent need for reforms in the accession process.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported these calls for reform, emphasizing the need to make membership negotiations more reliable for countries aspiring to join. The summit gathered EU leaders with representatives from six Western Balkan nations—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—all of which are keen to become part of the EU. Among these, Montenegro is considered the most advanced candidate and is aiming for EU membership by 2028.
French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, asserting that the EU’s enlargement is crucial for the continent’s strategic interests, including security, energy independence, and migration management. Macron advocated for “gradual integration,” a concept that would allow candidate countries to engage in certain EU institutions and initiatives prior to achieving full membership status. This approach aims to foster closer ties and preparatory integration even before formal accession.
The momentum for EU expansion has been invigorated by the geopolitical shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the Western Balkan countries, Ukraine and Moldova are actively pursuing EU membership. The European Union views enlargement as a strategic measure to bolster regional stability and mitigate external influences. Despite the political backing for this expansion, the accession process remains intricate and protracted, necessitating significant reforms from candidate countries and unanimous consent from all 27 current EU member states at various stages of the process.