The current geopolitical moment and conflicts in the Middle East can work in favor of candidate countries for entry into the European Union that show real progress, he believes. Bojana Zoric from the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), while the European Commission says that enlargement remains one of the key priorities.
The EC told "Vijesti" that the Commission is fully committed to making enlargement a reality.
"To achieve this, we support the countries in the enlargement process, including partners from the Western Balkans, through all necessary political, economic and technical assistance," the EC said, responding to questions about whether the war in the Middle East could push EU enlargement to the background, or accelerate the admission of the most prepared candidates, such as Montenegro.
The EC, they added, has also established ambitious reform agendas so that these countries can feel the first benefits of the Single Market even before accession.
"Our Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is clear evidence to partners in the region that there is a credible way forward. It is a path that brings benefits even before accession, but at the same time contributes to accelerating the accession process," the EC said.
They say that this dynamic approach encourages reforms, with the aim of increasing readiness for membership and enabling easier integration into the EU.
Europe's security and the stability of its neighborhood go hand in hand
Bojana Zorić says that the war in the Middle East does not seem to be changing the European Union's priorities when it comes to enlargement, but rather the opposite.
She recalls that just a few days ago she was the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Kaya Callas At a conference of European Union ambassadors, she reaffirmed that the stability of the neighborhood remains one of the key priorities.
"More precisely, the stability of the neighborhood is the second priority, right after European defense, including military, financial and political support for Ukraine," she stated.
According to her, the current crises only further confirm how important the stability of the European continent is, including the stability of the European neighborhood, which currently includes the countries of the Western Balkans.
As he states, enlargement is considered one of the main instruments by which the EU can ensure this stability in the long term.
"At least that has been the case looking at the EU enlargements so far. Therefore, Europe's security and the stability of its neighborhood go hand in hand," Zorić said.
He stresses that enlargement remains a merit-based process - progress depends on reforms implemented by the candidate countries themselves.
"However, the message from Brussels is that in the current geopolitical moment there is greater political willingness to accelerate this process," said Zorić.
According to her, given the war in the Middle East and the great uncertainty that accompanies it, it was expected that the European Union's political attention would be directed towards that region at this time.
It recalls that the conflict is still ongoing, some European countries have already provided military assistance, including air defense systems, and there are concerns about possible consequences for Europe - for example, rising energy prices or potential migration waves, given that Europe is the first destination for such movements. At the same time, the EU remains focused on Ukraine.
"In that sense, the current political focus is not on the Western Balkans. However, this does not mean that the enlargement process has stopped. It continues, and the candidate countries still have their obligations and reforms that they must implement," Zorić said.
Members continue to demand a merit-based process
Zorić emphasizes that these crises are no longer ad hoc situations, but a situation that Europe has been facing for several years, starting with the Russian aggression against Ukraine, but also before, and "that is precisely why the geopolitical argument for enlargement remains strong."
He states that at the same time, despite this geopolitical moment, member states continue to insist on the principle that enlargement remains a merit-based process.
"In other words, there is a political awareness that Europe must be as united as possible to respond to security challenges, but candidate countries are expected to implement the necessary reforms. Without this, it will be difficult to justify their membership – or it simply will not happen," she warned.
For Montenegro, as she explained, this means in practice that the key remains in domestic reforms, especially when it comes to closing the remaining negotiation chapters and strengthening institutions.
"Chapters 23 and 24, which relate to the rule of law, judiciary and fundamental rights, remain the most sensitive part of the negotiations and the area where all eyes are on Montenegro's progress. Without a visible acceleration of reforms in these chapters, it will be difficult to achieve the goal of closing all negotiation chapters by the end of this year," said Zorić.
At the same time, he says, the current geopolitical moment can work in favor of candidate countries that show real progress, as there is a growing awareness within the EU that the stability and integration of the region is important.
Political and security alignment with the EU must be visible
She added that there is also a broader security dimension that Kaja Kalas recently spoke about, and in that sense, the question arises as to how Montenegro, as a NATO member and EU candidate, can contribute to European security.
"In the current circumstances, we are no longer talking about gradual alignment, but about clear positioning. In other words, the political and security alignment of candidate countries with the EU must be visible, consistent and unambiguous," concluded Zorić.
Members of the European Parliament adopted the European Union Enlargement Strategy this week, stating that enlargement is a strategic response to changing geopolitical realities and a key investment in the security and stability of the Union.
Parliament, as announced, believes that the cost of non-enlargement would be higher than the cost of admitting new members to the EU, as it would carry the risk of creating geopolitical gray zones susceptible to hostile foreign influence.
The document states that Montenegro and Albania have already set ambitious goals to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2026 and 2027, respectively.
"The EU should encourage these countries when their ambition is accompanied by tangible reforms, and MEPs call on the Council to recognise this momentum and remove all obstacles that exist on the EU side. MEPs also want the rapid opening of negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova," the document says.
Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiation chapters in its negotiations with the EU, and has so far temporarily closed 13.
The Government's goal, as has been announced repeatedly, is to completely close all remaining chapters, so that Montenegro becomes the first EU member state by the end of 2028.
The intergovernmental conference between Montenegro and the EU, which is to close another chapter, the 14th, is scheduled for March 17 in Brussels.
Ambassadors of European Union member states in Brussels on Friday approved a common position for Chapter 21 (Trans-European Transport Networks).
Cost: EU must prepare for next enlargement
European Council President Antonio Costa said this week at the annual conference of Union ambassadors in Brussels that the EU must prepare for the next enlargement and stressed that this process has been one of his top priorities since the first day of his mandate.
He said that the EU is a project of reconciliation and peace and that these values are closely linked to enlargement, making it a geostrategic investment for the future.
He assessed that, as the EU's most successful strategy, enlargement strengthens democracy and the rule of law, expands the space of shared values, shared prosperity and shared responsibility.
He also said that Ukraine's application for membership has brought new dynamics and momentum to the EU accession process, emphasizing that this momentum is not limited to Ukraine, but extends to Moldova and all six partners from the Western Balkans.
Košta said that the future of these countries lies in the EU and that accession is based on merit and ensures the highest standards for all.
"To achieve enlargement in the coming years, we need to take decisive steps. We need to seize this momentum. We need to respect the merit-based approach, but also feel the urgency (of the moment)," Košta stressed.
According to him, in the new reality, the EU must defend the international order based on rules, the principles of the UN and its treaties.
"Violations of international law must not be tolerated - whether in Ukraine, Greenland, Latin America, Africa, Gaza or the Middle East. Violations of human rights must not be tolerated - whether in Iran, Sudan or Afghanistan," said Košta.
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