Geopolitical tensions are reshaping EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, increasingly framing it as a strategic security instrument rather than a purely technical process. The war following the Russian invasion of Ukraine has accelerated debates inside the European Union about enlargement as part of broader European security planning. Experts argue that candidate countries in the Western Balkans continue to show uneven progress in democratic reforms, particularly in rule of law implementation. Concerns are growing about the influence of external actors, including China and Russia, in the region’s political and economic landscape. While geopolitical urgency is pushing enlargement higher on the EU agenda, merit-based conditionality and democratic standards must remain central. Furthermore, credibility of the enlargement process will depend on balancing security interests with long-term democratic transformation and public communication across the region. Read more here.
Source: EUROPEUM