European Union leaders meeting with Western Balkan counterparts in Brussels this week are working to refocus the bloc’s agenda on enlargement, with discussions heavily featuring Ukraine support and regional security.
Speaking to AnewZ, Political analyst Nikola Mikovic argued that the summit is most significant for Montenegro and Albania, which he called the frontrunners, citing membership timelines often set for 2028 and 2029. He noted, however, that earlier timelines have fallen through before, referencing EU expectations in 2018 for Montenegro to join by 2025, which did not materialise.
Mikovic said that Brussels’ renewed urgency is primarily geostrategic. He emphasised Montenegro and Albania’s access to the Adriatic Sea and also highlighted Bosnia and Herzegovina’s smaller coastline, contending that if these states join, the Adriatic would be more firmly consolidated under EU membership. He considered this strategically important if the continent faces a much larger conflict scenario. In his opinion, this security logic is a key reason the EU is pushing for progress after a decade in which no new member has joined.
Regarding why Montenegro is leading the accession process, Mikovic linked it to alignment with EU foreign policy choices and defence positioning. He explained that Montenegro has harmonised its foreign policy with the EU, implemented sanctions on Russia, and joined NATO, which he describes as an informal prerequisite that has applied to several earlier EU entrants from Eastern Europe. He also suggested that Montenegro has fewer disputes with neighbours compared to some others in the region, making it a more straightforward political fit for Brussels.
He added that enlargement is not solely a Western Balkans issue. Mikovic highlighted Moldova as another candidate that could progress swiftly, because its location is significant—bordering Ukraine and sitting on key rail links connecting Romania and Ukraine, which could become increasingly important under heightened security pressures in Europe.
Serbia, in his view, is much less likely to join soon. He noteed limited political will in Brussels for that step and points to domestic scepticism within Serbia, where he claims a majority opposes EU membership. Mikovic stated that Serbia faces a singular obstacle, as, unlike other candidates whose territorial integrity the EU supports, Belgrade is under pressure to accept Kosovo’s secession as a condition for membership—a move he believes no government in Belgrade is prepared for.
Ukraine remains central to discussions because Brussels wants reassurance that candidate states will support the EU’s long-term policy of backing Kyiv. Mikovic claimed most candidate states support Ukraine, describing Serbia as more complex, even though he noted that Belgrade has voted against Russia in major international forums.
He minimised broader regional tensions, arguing the main dispute likely to hinder enlargement is Serbia-Kosovo. Elsewhere, he suggested the region’s main economic driver is the EU’s dominance as a market, investor, and donor, and that several states are already deeply interconnected through trade and investment. He pointed to Montenegro’s use of the euro as an indication of how closely parts of the region are already functioning alongside EU systems.
Looking towards 2026, Mikovic anticipated ongoing alignment with EU rules and negotiations, with practical steps such as the Western Balkans joining a roaming free zone—similar to arrangements Ukraine and Moldova already enjoy. He believed progress will be marked by the gradual opening and closing of negotiating clusters, with Montenegro expected to continue advancing while other candidates face a tougher journey.
Five Azerbaijani crew members were killed, and three others were injured after two cargo vessels were hit in a drone attack in the Sea of Azov, Azerba...
The United States has approved the possible sale of five Seahawk maritime helicopters to New Zealand in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, as Wellington m...
The United States has announced an additional $38 million to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as hea...
Armenians will vote on Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan secures a new mandate to pursue ...
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after bal...
Georgia has been described as unavoidable in Europe’s new connectivity plans linking the EU to Central Asia, but increasingly unpredictable at the same time.
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos arrived in Türkiye on Friday for high-level talks centred on the modernisation of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, which both sides have described as vital to the future of bilateral relations.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels on Wednesday for a high-level summit aimed at strengthening strategic ties and advancing the EU enlargement agenda, with officials emphasising the strategic importance of bringing the region into the bloc.
Five Azerbaijani crew members were killed, and three others were injured after two cargo vessels were hit in a drone attack in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday, as Russia blamed Ukraine for the strike.
The new AnewZ documentary, TARGET: Yerevan, builds its explosive case on exclusive, secret recordings originally published by Minval Politika.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
Armenia’s National Assembly election on 7 June is increasingly being viewed not only as a domestic political contest, but also as a vote that could shape the future direction of the South Caucasus.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
The United States has approved the possible sale of five Seahawk maritime helicopters to New Zealand in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, as Wellington moves to strengthen its armed forces.
The United States has announced an additional $38 million to support efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as health officials warn that the virus could spread further without stronger action.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
The next time a goal goes in during a Champions League final, fans around the world could watch it from every angle at once — frozen, rotated and replayed in ways that were impossible only a few years ago.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment