A crucial time to push for EU Enlargement

Today, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi will present the revised enlargement methodology. Expectations are high ever since accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania were delayed, with EU leaders failing to reach an agreement last October. Furthermore, on his recent two-day visit to Tirana, EP President David Sassoli reiterated that the accession process should start before the Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb in May.

France has shown openness to membership talks for Albania and North Macedonia, provided that the member states approve the Commission’s enlargement plan and that Paris is satisfied with the internal reforms that North Macedonia and Albania have carried out to meet EU requirements.

Delaying negotiations with accession candidates would undermine EU credibility. With the departure of the U.K. from the European Union, fostering the enlargement process could send a positive message of European integration and further strengthen Europe’s geopolitical ambitions. At times when external powers wish to get a foothold in the Western Balkans and interfere with the EU agenda, full support of the process of enlargement would boost the EU’s role in both the region and the international arena and prove the effectiveness of von der Leyen’s geopolitical Commission.  

Input from the European Movement International

The European Movement International advocates a positive enlargement process, in order to continue the proactive and consistent role the EU has played in the region. To integrate the Western Balkans into the European Union means to foster stability, security, and economic cooperation, as well as to strengthen democracy and minimise nationalistic trends in uncertain times.

In our most recent policy position on Promoting peace, stability and investment in the Western Balkans, we affirm that the rule of law and democracy should be the top priorities in order to counteract authoritarian tendencies. As corruption remains a key challenge in the Western Balkans, there is a strong need for cooperation between democratic institutions in the region, as well as giving civil society an independent role in monitoring these efforts.

The success of enlargement also depends on accession countries’ commitment to undergo the necessary reforms to protect the fundamental values, freedoms and rights that are in accordance with the EU’s principles.  At the same time, to further advance these efforts, there is a need for a sense of shared responsibility among EU leaders, to enhance stability, security and cooperation in the region.