Leaders of the European Union and the six countries of the Western Balkans met on Friday in Tivat, Montenegro. The talks focused on the future of EU enlargement and the progress of candidate member states. Some Balkan countries have been on the candidate list for ten years.
Strategic
Attention to enlargement has increased recently. Within the EU there is a growing sense that enlargement is not only a political choice but also increasingly a strategic necessity. Therefore, efforts are being made to find ways to speed up the current accession process.
Russia and China
An important reason for this is the growing concern about foreign influence in the region. The discussions frequently point to the bellicose role of Russia. The EU wants to prevent Moscow’s influence from expanding further in countries that have been on the path to membership for many years, such as Georgia and Serbia.
Promotion
The increasing presence of China also plays a role. European plans for economic cooperation and financial support aim to strengthen the ties between those candidate countries and the EU even further.
Reforms
At the same time, European leaders emphasize that accelerating admission does not mean the conditions will vanish. Countries wishing to join must continue to work on reforms, including in the judicial system, governance, and fighting corruption.
The current accession process is experienced by many stakeholders as lengthy. Therefore, there is talk of new forms of phased, gradual integration. Candidates could gain earlier access to certain benefits of European cooperation even before full membership is achieved.
Montenegro and Albania
Montenegro is regarded as one of the most advanced candidates. In addition to the enlargement discussion, concerns were also raised about ongoing tensions between Serbia and Montenegro. Albania is also mentioned as a country that has recently made progress in the accession process.
The question of possibly accelerated admission of Ukraine and Moldova is separate from the Balkan region. A decision on those two countries may be made at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on June 15.