THE EU IS CHANGING, WE’RE WAITING Western Balkans on EU Reform and Enlargement
THE EU IS CHANGING, WE’RE WAITING Western Balkans on EU Reform and Enlargement

Author(s): Jelena Pejić Nikić
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: BCBP Beogradski centar za bezbednosnu politiku
Keywords: EU reform; enlargement process; Western Balkans; qualified majority voting; gradual integration; political will; regional advocacy
Summary/Abstract: This policy paper examines Western Balkan stakeholders' perspectives on what is needed for meaningful enlargement and the EU reforms they consider essential for an effective expanded Union. Field research in spring and summer 2024 included 16 high-level interviews with representatives from all six countries of the region. Frustration with the process has grown, with a perceived widening gap between formal EU alignment and (lack of) substantive reform. However, a wholesale overhaul of the enlargement framework is unnecessary as political will remains the key constraint. Since 2022, the geopolitical context has pushed EU decision-makers to revitalise enlargement, restructure administration, and unblock decisions on individual candidates. The new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 offers an opportunity to align financial support with this renewed approach. However, this window of opportunity is seen as prioritising geopolitical concerns over the Fundamentals, with EU focus shifting eastward rather than towards the Western Balkans. Interviewed stakeholders agreed on two key proposals: introducing qualified majority voting (QMV) for interim enlargement steps and fully decoupling enlargement from bilateral disputes. These measures aim to reduce veto points and protect accession by isolating the process from political disputes. The idea of gradual integration, allowing candidates to access certain membership benefits before full accession, has garnered strong political support but remains underdeveloped and unevenly applied in the two enlargement regions. Stakeholders warned that gradual integration must not substitute for full membership, particularly after decades of negotiations.

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