Enlargement
West urges Kosovo, Serbia to restart talks ‘with urgency’
Western powers on Tuesday (13 August) urged foes Serbia and Kosovo to reboot their stalled dialogue "with urgency", warning that the lack of progress is hindering their dreams of joining the European Union.
Rival Bosnia leaders agree to form government 10 months after vote
Bosnia's rival Serb, Croat and Bosniak leaders agreed on Monday (5 August) to form a central government 10 months after a general election, reaching a compromise about Bosnia's integration into NATO which had been a key stumbling block.
The Brief, powered by BP – Time for New Democracy to apologise
Realpolitik can be tricky. It often makes politicians go back on things they had promised before taking office. Greece's newly-elected centre-right government is a case in point. It’s high time they apologised for their stance on the North Macedonia name change deal.
Moldova FM: We want to move as quickly as possible on EU accession
There is a high consensus in Moldova that we want good relations with Brussels and Moscow, but we have no alternative to strong pro-European integration, Moldova's new foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
German arms exports to Ankara continue despite escalating Greek-Turkish crisis
Tensions have escalated between Turkey and two EU member states – Greece and Cyprus. But that hasn't stopped another EU country, Germany, to continue exporting arms to Ankara, according to official government data.
Serbia to join the EU when both sides are ready, leaders say
Serbia will join the EU only when it is deemed ready and the bloc has been reformed and fit to take in new members, the presidents of Serbia and France agreed during Emmanuel Macron's visit to the country. But Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić quietly conceded that Belgrade would not be able to join the EU in 2025. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
Belgrade condemns ‘hate’ after Orthodox graves in Kosovo vandalised
Graves at a Serbian Orthodox cemetery in Kosovo have been vandalised, police said on Sunday (14 July), in an incident that comes at a time of rising tension between Belgrade and Pristina.
Georgia suggests taking an unconventional path to EU accession
Georgia staked its claim to becoming an EU member on Thursday (11 July), even if it meant an innovative approach and "knocking on every door", its president told an international conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi.
Will New Democracy undermine the positive momentum in the Western Balkans?
Following New Democracy’s return to power there are concerns in Brussels, Berlin and Washington about changes in Greece’s policy towards its Balkan neighbours, write Alexandra Voudouri and Ioannis Armakolas.
Finland kicks off EU presidency with bid to tackle ‘unfin[n]ished business’
"A sustainable Europe - a sustainable future". This is Finland's motto to kickstart its presidency in the European Council for the next six months. The Finnish programme seeks to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, expand the digital internal market and strengthen military cooperation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Bulgaria and North Macedonia assume joint presidency of Berlin Process
Bulgaria and North Macedonia - an EU member and a candidate country - have decided to jointly host the presidency of the so-called Berlin Process for the Western Balkans. The unusual decision was taken at a summit in the Polish city of Poznań last week.
EU must revamp enlargement as a concept, report says
Since the Thessaloniki summit in 2003, where the EU expressed support for all the Western Balkan countries, only Croatia has become a full member of the bloc. A recent report suggests Brussels should revamp the handling of the whole process, with a directorate that would only deal with EU hopefuls.
North Macedonia’s Sekerinska: Postponing decisions is not the best policy
North Macedonia has done its part in removing the obstacles on its road to EU accession, but the EU has been slow to follow suit, North Macedonia’s Defence Minister Radmila Šekerinska told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview. Radmila Šekerinska is...
Bosnian Serbs pull reserve police plan under Western pressure
Bosnia's Serb entity on Monday (24 June) withdrew a bill to set up a reserve police force under pressure from Western peace envoys who said it would be divisive, with memories still fresh of reservists' role in ethnic cleansing during the 1992-95 war.
Turkey, Russia and China covet Western Balkans as EU puts enlargement on hold
Unless the EU accession process of the Western Balkans picks up the pace, the six countries of the region may examine alternatives for their countries’ external orientation, including boosting relations with China, Russia, Turkey and the Gulf States, a report...
Let’s set things straight: Accession talks do not equate EU membership promise
Statements that starting EU accession talks with a candidate country directly implies membership are false. Sena Marić explains why communication of enlargement - both by EU institutions and in the member states - should be based on facts and not on dangerous play with words and emotions.
Borissov warns North Macedonia against stealing Bulgarian history
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov warned EU hopeful North Macedonia on Thursday (20 June) against what he said was “anti-Bulgarian rhetoric” and appropriation of Bulgaria's history as its own, saying it "must stop".
Lithuanian FM: Russian threats are real and should be taken seriously
Although there are no direct Russian threats to Lithuania, there are insecurities in the region and militaristic arguments used in political debates, which must be taken seriously, Lithuania's foreign minister told EURACTIV Croatia in an interview.
Divided Europe deals major blow to North Macedonia’s EU accession hopes
An EU ministerial meeting on Tuesday (18 June) ended up as a major disappointment for North Macedonia, which had nurtured hopes that its historic agreement with Greece on the country's name would be rewarded with an EU accession ticket.
Transforming words into deeds – the Visegrad Group and Western Balkans’ EU integration
All Visegrad Group countries vocally support the enlargement of the EU and NATO, with a focus on integrating the Western Balkan (WB) countries. But how can those words be transformed into deeds?
Will Brussels turn its back – again – on the Balkans?
Will the EU honour its word to Tirana and Skopje or will Brussels – not for the first time – leave the Western Balkans stewing in its own juice? All eyes are on the reaction of EU foreign ministers to last week's inflammatory rhetoric by two Balkan leaders, writes Denis MacShane.
North Macedonia nears accession talks, Albania falling behind
Member states will on Tuesday (18 June) postpone a decision on opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, most likely until September, as almost all capitals are prepared to green light Skopje while Tirana still remains a ‘no-go’ for a few, EU officials and diplomats told EURACTIV.
North Macedonia president: We need date for EU talks before autumn
Decoupling North Macedonia and Albania’s EU path, by giving the green light to the former and holding the start of accession talks for the latter is not great, but is the only way forward, North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview during his visit to Brussels on Thursday (13 June).