"The spirit of enlargement is returning": Key messages from the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels

The focus of the gathering was the European Union's enlargement, with many countries expressing the hope that the EU will welcome several new members by 2030.

"The new European Commission is a Commission for Enlargement, and every member of the College of Commissioners has a role to play in actively supporting candidate countries. These countries can rely on their expertise to build a larger and stronger EU, but the same spirit of unity must also be demonstrated within your nations," Kos said during the EU-Western Balkans Summit.

She emphasised that EU membership must be a significant national project involving not just governments but also civil society, municipalities, and citizens.

Reflecting on Slovenia's accession to the EU in 2004, Kos recalled: "At that time, people were setting off fireworks and celebrating with champagne. They did so not only for the benefits of joining the single market but also because they felt part of a growing community of shared values. It signalled the end, as Milan Kundera described it, of the 'kidnapping of one part of the West.' That community of values remains incomplete, the continent is not yet united, and the 'kidnapping' of one part of Europe continues." She concluded by noting that this situation is now changing.

"A wake-up call"

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović expressed hope that Marta Kos’s vision would come true by the end of the current European Commission’s mandate.

He noted that enlargement is among the European Commission’s seven priorities, driven by the need for a larger, more resilient, and stronger EU.

"There is a new momentum in Brussels and other capitals, and we can finally see an appetite for new member states. This is very encouraging. I am optimistic. When I was elected, I set an ambitious but realistic goal: for Montenegro to join the EU by 2028," said Milatović. He added that this goal is about more than accessing EU funds; it is about following a roadmap to join the European community of values.

The Montenegrin President also stressed that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine served as a "wake-up call."

"We have entered a new era. The EU now understands this is about the security of the European continent. We are fortunate that new momentum and instruments like the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans demonstrate the EU’s commitment to the region. It is a joint endeavour—for citizens, the Commission, and member states alike," Milatović concluded in Brussels.

The Western Balkans should not compete

Speaking on the first panel, Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gerasimov, and Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, discussed the importance of regional solidarity.

Koopman emphasised the need for action rather than just principles: "This is no longer just a proposal; it is now becoming a reality,” he said, adding that the "spirit of 2004 is returning."

Brnabić stressed the importance of collective progress: "The Western Balkans should not compete with each other. For Europe to be complete, it is crucial that the entire Western Balkans region joins the EU."

She expressed confidence that EU membership would transform people’s perspectives overnight, resolving long-standing disputes and reducing the significance of borders.

"I don’t believe competition within the Western Balkans is helpful. If people see better living standards, opportunities for their families, and a brighter future, they will look ahead with optimism. They may not forget the past, but it will no longer weigh so heavily on them," Brnabić said.

The Growth Plan is more than money

The second panel addressed the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and how EU membership could unlock the region’s economic potential.

Milica Delević, Director for Governance and Political Affairs at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), highlighted the plan’s transformative potential:

"The Growth Plan is a tremendous opportunity for the region’s development and will directly benefit its citizens. The introduction of SEPA [Single Euro Payments Area] will also result in significant budget savings for member states."

Nicole Farnsworth of the Kosovo Women’s Network emphasised that the plan is about more than financial assistance. It offers wide-ranging benefits and opportunities, including reforms that will facilitate the opening of new negotiation clusters and the closure of existing chapters. She also called attention to improving women’s health and employment opportunities in the region.

Thomas Hagleitner, head of the European Commission's Western Balkans Policy Unit, reiterated: "The Growth Plan is not just about funding; it’s much more. While money is important, the way it is allocated—based on merit—is equally vital."

He acknowledged that the road ahead for the Western Balkans will be challenging but assured that citizens would increasingly experience the benefits of reform.

North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski pointed out that citizens care less about chapters and clusters and more about tangible improvements in their daily lives.

How to implement the rule of law

The slow progress of EU integration in some countries has been attributed to challenges in strengthening the rule of law. This was the topic of the third panel.

Panellists agreed that the Western Balkans are on the right track to meeting EU recommendations, but significant efforts are still required to achieve the fundamental prerequisite for accession—strengthening the rule of law.

Moderator Jamie Shea, a former NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Emerging Security Challenges, noted: "Rule of law is an important topic, but while easy to discuss in theory, it is much harder to implement in practice."

Arben Fetai, North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister for Good Governance, addressed challenges such as corruption, crime, and the lack of rule of law, while representatives from Montenegro and Ukraine emphasised the importance of cooperation among candidate countries.

Ukraine does not have an advantage

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna rejected the idea that Ukraine has an advantage over the Western Balkans due to the war.

"We are protectors of one another. For the EU, there is no difference between Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. The European Commission is playing a crucial role in preparing the EU for enlargement and doing everything possible to ensure all candidates become part of the Union," she said. Stefanishyna called for unity among candidate countries to accelerate the accession process.