Speaking to The New Union Post, Adnan Ćerimagić of the European Stability Initiative argues that the real challenge for EU enlargement is not Iceland’s rejection of renewed accession talks, but the EU’s failure to integrate candidates such as Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans more closely. He challenges the assumption that anything short of full EU membership is insufficient, arguing that today’s geopolitical context requires as many democratic European countries as possible to be integrated into EU structures. Montenegro could test this approach: once it completes the required reforms, signs an Accession Treaty and ratifies it domestically, it could gain Single Market access, start receiving EU funding and work towards Schengen integration while full ratification continues across EU Member States. This would provide tangible benefits earlier, reduce enlargement’s dependence on lengthy and uncertain ratification processes and potentially increase the attractiveness and credibility of the process for other candidates, including Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia and North Macedonia. Read more here.
Source: The New Union Post