About: enlargement fatigue
Partnership missing: SOTEU ignores the calls of Eastern allies for positive political signals
The EU’s Eastern Partnership is often touted by European officials as one of the bloc’s most foreign policies but was barely mentioned in Commission president’s first annual address, despite calls for more political signalling. Despite a strong focus on foreign...
Balkan hopefuls get green light to start EU talks, conditions still weigh on Tirana
EU ministers on Tuesday (24 March) approved starting membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania, a move hailed as restoring "credibility" after months of damaging delays and bickering.
EU in ‘frank’ talks with Western Balkan nations seeking membership
European Council president Charles Michel on Sunday (16 February) met with leaders of the six Western Balkan nations seeking to join the EU, for 'frank' talks ahead of a key summit in Zagreb in May.
All eyes on France after inconclusive enlargement summit debate
After a long night of inconclusive discussions, EU heads of state are set to return to the EU enlargement issue today (18 October). All eyes are on France, as Emmanuel Macron's position has so far been the major stumbling block for opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.
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.
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?
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.
Serbia in the EU in 2025 – mission (im)possible
Serbia's accession to the EU in 2025 seems unrealistic, given its slow pace of progress, though not entirely impossible, civil society representatives have said but warned that neither Belgrade nor Brussels were trying very hard. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
Macedonia pledges more reforms to secure EU accession talks
Macedonia's prime minister said Wednesday (30 January) that in addition to changing his country's name, his government was ready to enact further reforms to speed up the start of EU accession talks.
Several thousand Macedonians gather to support EU, NATO membership
Several thousand Macedonians gathered in the capital Skopje on Sunday (16 September) to express their support for NATO and European Union membership bids and for a change in the country's name.
EU puts ‘North Macedonia’ and Albania on hold until the European elections
The European Union agreed a compromise on Tuesday (26 June) whereby it would open negotiations to join the bloc with Albania and Macedonia in June next year, provided a string of conditions on rule of law, crime and corruption are met.
We are aware of ‘Europeisation fatigue’, warns Albanian minister
Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati briefed a small group of Brussels journalists on Thursday (26 April) about his country’s EU ambitions, following the Commission’s proposal to start accession negotiations with Tirana and a visit of Prime Minister Edi Rama to Berlin last Wednesday.
Don’t turn your back on us, Albania PM tells EU
Denying Albania the prospect of one day becoming a European Union member could fuel Muslim radicalisation in the Balkan country, endangering regional stability, its prime minister Edi Rama said.
Ukraine says DCFTAs outdated, need deep review
One of the key messages from the EURACTIV debate on the Eastern Partnership – “Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the EU: The Road to 2020” held on March 20 in Brussels was that the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements with these countries need a revamp.
MEPs call for freeze in Turkey accession talks
EU lawmakers called for a suspension of Turkey's membership talks with the European Union yesterday (5 July), saying President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's crackdown on opponents meant Ankara did not meet the bloc's democratic criteria.
EU pushes Western Balkans toward common market
The European Union yesterday (16 March) encouraged the Western Balkan countries to create a common market, which it estimated could create over 80,000 jobs in an area of high unemployment.
EU leaders concerned over ‘return of Balkan demons’
EU leaders voiced concern yesterday (9 March) about "external influences" fueling division in the western Balkans, as Britain announced a summit to focus efforts on stabilising a key region vulnerable to Russian meddling.
No celebrations for Bulgaria and Romania’s EU’s 10th anniversary
Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007. On 1 January 2017, no celebrations were held marking their tenth accession anniversary, confirming that EU enlargement is no longer fashionable.
Macedonian nationalist ex-PM set to win election in test for EU
Macedonia's veteran nationalist leader Nikola Gruevski looks set for a comeback in Sunday's (11 December) parliamentary election, posing a challenge to the European Union and its strategy of coaxing Balkan nations to make painful reforms in exchange for aid.
Füle: If the EU disengages from the Balkans, others will engage ‘immediately’
Former Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle told an audience today (7 December) that if the EU distances itself from the Western Balkans, other geopolitical players will immediately seize the opportunity to assert their influence over the region.
World Bank: Western Balkans economically resilient despite setbacks
The World Bank published a report today (27 September) revealing that the economies of the six Western Balkans countries have performed rather well despite Brexit, the slow recovery in the EU and enlargement fatigue.
Serbian PM dreams of Balkan trade bloc
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said Wednesday (14 September) he feared for the stability of the Western Balkans, calling for a regional trade bloc as a way to overcome a painful past.
Analysts: Brexit will slow EU enlargement in the Western Balkans
The United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU will have hurt the accession of Serbia, and other Western Balkans countries, analysts warn. It will slow accession down, but not stop it completely. EURACTIV Serbia reports.