Thewesternbalkans.
On 18 and 19 of June 2026 in Brussels, leaders of the EU member states hade a regular European Council meeting, where it discussed, among other issues, the enlargement process with regard to the Western Balkans. Following the meeting, the Council concluded that the EC would continue to work closely with the Western Balkans and support their reform efforts on their path towards EU membership. The European Council reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the gradual integration between the European Union and the region during the enlargement process itself, in a merit-based manner. In its conclusions, the European Council reaffirmed its commitment to the gradual integration of the Western Balkans during the enlargement process itself, which would allow candidate and potential candidate countries to benefit from certain aspects of European integration before full membership.
According to the final document “European Council Conclusions” European leaders have taken following most important decisions regarding the enlargement:
ENLARGEMENT AND REFORMS. In light of the new impetus in the enlargement process, and recalling the Granada Declaration, the European Council will hold a strategic discussion on enlargement and reforms at its meeting in October 2026.
REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA. The European Council welcomes the holding of the Intergovernmental Conference on the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union and the opening of the fundamentals cluster on 15 June 2026, and looks forward to the opening of the other clusters, in line with the merit-based approach. The European Council also looks forward to the EU-Republic of Moldova Summit on 22 June 2026.
WESTERN BALKANS. The European Council welcomes the holding of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro, on 5 June 2026, which contributed to the new impetus in the enlargement process. Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council reiterates that the European Union will continue to work closely with the Western Balkans and support their reform efforts on their paths towards EU membership. The European Council remains committed to advancing the gradual integration between the European Union and the region during the enlargement process itself in a merit based and reversible manner.
Comments: The trend continues in EU Summit meetings for foreign policy issues to dominate, as well as the EU’s desire to be a global player beyond just the economic sphere (35 out of a total of 58 points in the Conclusions). This is also combined with another new trend – the militarization of the Union. Even extremely important issues like EU competitiveness, immigration, and the fight against drug trafficking are included in the EU’s decisions, among other things.
The EU position on Ukraine is still hard, even harder.
The rapid start of the enlargement negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova deserves attention. At the upcoming strategic dialogue in October on enlargement, decisions will most likely be made regarding speeding up negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
Both countries are being treated as one group. Moldova is a small country, and its EU accession won’t have significant consequences, but Ukraine’ integration is on a completely different scale.
It should be noted that in practice, Ukraine and Moldova have overtaken North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo.
The Western Balkans are reflected objectively, and their position on enlargement is still leading for the moment. At least as far as Montenegro and Albania are concerned.
