Sobral: EU enlargement is the best way to ensure prosperity and stability across the continent

The enlargement of the European Union (EU) is not a technical process, but a strategic imperative and the best way to ensure prosperity and stability across the continent, a panel at the EU Strategy Forum for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) said.

Hugo Sobral from the European Commission's (EC) Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy said that the EC is committed to the enlargement of the Union to the Western Balkans.

“Enlargement is not a technical process. It is a strategic imperative. It is the best way to secure and extend prosperity and stability across the continent,” Sobral said at a panel in Skopje titled “Macro-regional cooperation as a strategic tool for enlargement – ​​how to better shape the future?”.

He added that enlargement is also a way for the EU to become a stronger actor on the international stage.

"And of course, enlargement is, as we all know, a long process because it also requires meeting numerous standards and harmonizing with the EU acquis. That is why this gradual integration is important, to ensure that there are tangible benefits that countries and citizens can feel even before accession," Sobral said.

According to him, macro-regional strategies and interreg programs are one of the best ways to truly feel tangible benefits even before EU accession.

Sobral recalled that the EUSAIR strategy brings together EU candidate countries and member states.

"In fact, it is the only strategy in which the candidate countries outnumber the member states. That is why it is logical that there is a strong focus on enlargement, and I welcome that," Sobral added.

The Director General of the Directorate General for EU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Ivan Ivanišević, said that macro-regional strategies will function within the new financial framework and that it will be necessary to adapt to the new reality.

"That financial framework may be influenced by a completely different geopolitical situation and different priorities."

"What we need to achieve in this segment is to ensure continuity of the activities we have already started within the initiatives, as well as to achieve something that we consider to be fundamentally important," Ivanišević said.

He pointed out the need for complementarity of priorities.

"What we need to do is to definitely avoid overlapping activities, and to align priorities. This coordination will not be easy, because priorities are not always the same in the north and south of Europe," Ivanišević added.

North Macedonia's Minister of European Affairs Bekim Sali said that for many years, enlargement and regional cooperation have often been considered separately. "However, today's geopolitical reality clearly shows that they must go together. The Adriatic-Ionian region is one of the clearest examples of how cooperation creates stability and resilience."

Sali said that EUSAIR is not only a macro-regional initiative, but also a practical mechanism for gradual European integration.

"Through this framework, countries in the region are already learning how to coordinate policies, align strategic priorities, and implement joint projects in line with European standards," Sali said.

He said that Europe today faces multiple pressures, security challenges, energy uncertainty and growing global instability, stating that in such a context, enlargement is no longer just a political promise, but a strategic necessity for Europe.

"The Western Balkans are part of the European political and security architecture. And the integration of the region represents an investment in long-term European stability and resilience. Therefore, the current momentum of the enlargement process must be preserved and further strengthened," Sali stressed.

He added that candidate countries need stronger opportunities for gradual integration before formal membership, and that this is where macro-regional strategies can provide added value, as citizens need to see concrete results of European cooperation.

"Citizens need to see greater productivity, better economic opportunities, a cleaner environment, improved transport links, greater energy security, digital transformation and stronger opportunities for young people. This is how trust in the European project is built," Sali stressed.

Italian Minister of European Affairs Tomaso Foti said that his country supports the accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU, adding that the region is an important part of Europe.

"Today we have a situation where everything is constantly changing, in terms of the geopolitical situation, and that is why we must strengthen cohesion and be at the level to respond to the challenges," said Foti.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Armand Skapi, assessed that macro-regional strategies such as EUSAIR should be more strongly recognized as practical and strategic instruments that complement the enlargement process.

"They are already delivering concrete results by supporting cooperation in the areas of transport connectivity, energy, the environment, digital transformation and economic development — areas that are directly linked to European integration," said Skapi.

Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina Miloš Prica pointed out that it is extremely important that best practices and experiences are exchanged between countries that are already in the EU and those that aspire to join that club.

He emphasized the importance of strong involvement of local communities, which, he said, are the key to transforming societies towards adopting European standards.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Andreja Metelko Zgombić, said that the country has always been a strong advocate of the EU enlargement process, and will continue to do so in the future.

"We also recognize the importance of the role of macro-regional strategies and cooperation, and that is why we are more than grateful for the presidency of North Macedonia, which has highlighted macro-regional cooperation as one of the powerful instruments for bringing the entire region closer to EU accession," said Metelko Zgombić.

She stated that they are proud that Croatia is a fairly active partner in the region, especially when it comes to planning and implementing projects that bring their partners closer to the EU.

"We also see this macro-regional cooperation as a very powerful instrument within which EU member states and non-member states work and plan together, align the region with EU standards and values, work on transport infrastructure, environmental protection standards, connect people and acquire knowledge," added Metelko Zgombić.

Kristina Milosavljević from the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that macro-regional strategies from the perspective of that country show that the enlargement process is not only a political process, but also a practical one.

"Macro-regional strategies as a whole should be more clearly recognized as practical instruments of EU enlargement," said Milosavljević.