Five EU Member States- Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia have proposed a gradual, merit-based integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU Single Market, aiming to maintain enlargement momentum and strengthen the region’s alignment with the European Union. According to the proposal, candidate countries could progressively access additional EU programmes and policy areas as they advance in aligning with EU legislation chapter by chapter. Sectors mentioned include transport, energy, electricity markets, the digital single market, competitiveness, and critical raw materials. The proposal also foresees safeguards in cases of democratic or rule of law backsliding. The initiative reflects growing discussions within the EU on making enlargement more tangible and gradual, while also responding to increasing geopolitical competition and external influence in the region. Read more here.
