On March 28, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Union (EU) intends to launch a gradual integration process for six Western Balkan countries seeking to join the bloc. The statement came in the coastal town of Tivat, Montenegro, following a summit between EU leaders and their Western Balkan counterparts.
“The clear message of today is, and will always be: We want you. And we want this region, together with the countries in it, to become members of the European Union soon,” Merz told reporters.
Montenegro, which is striving to become an EU member, along with Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia, are the six Western Balkan countries on the candidate list. Ukraine and Moldova have also joined the queue since the conflict with Russia erupted in 2022, fueling Brussels’ interest in expanding the bloc.
Speaking at the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed: “We need to make the enlargement process faster and more credible.” Along with Germany, France has proposed the idea of “gradual integration,” under which a country meeting certain EU standards would be allowed to participate in some bloc formats, such as Council of the European Union meetings.
The German chancellor acknowledged: “The fact that we have not welcomed any new members in 13 years shows that shortcomings also lie on the European Union’s side.” Many leaders support accelerating integration, provided candidates have no veto power during intermediate stages.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the geopolitical importance of enlargement: “This region is where Europe’s independence is threatened over energy, security, and migration routes.”
Although Brussels has long insisted that all remaining Western Balkan countries would be accepted equally, Montenegro and Albania now emerge as the strongest candidates, pulling ahead of Serbia and Bosnia. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos praised Montenegro’s progress, suggesting technical negotiations could conclude by the end of this year, paving the way for membership by the end of 2028—20 years after the country filed its application.
However, this prospect is considered ambitious as Montenegro still faces major hurdles in judicial reform and anti-corruption. Support for EU membership has also dropped significantly in some Balkan countries after more than 15 years of waiting, especially in Serbia, where approval stands below 50% due to its close ties with Russia.
