A summit will be held in Montenegro, where more than 30 European leaders will discuss the prospects of the six Western Balkan countries joining the EU. The main goal is deeper integration into the single market and confirmation of real chances for membership. At the same time, Ukraine and Moldova are preparing to start negotiations on their approximation to the EU.<\/p>\n
A summit with more than 30 European leaders is scheduled to take place in the coastal town of Tivat in Montenegro, including Emmanuel Macron<\/strong>, Friedrich Merz<\/strong>, Ursula von der Leyen<\/strong> \u0456 Georgia Maloney<\/strong>. The main topic of the meeting will be the integration of the six Western Balkan countries - Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia - into the EU single market with the prospect of further membership.<\/p>\n Ant\u00f3nio Costa<\/strong>, President of the European Council, stressed that the EU's commitment to the Western Balkans is real, as is the possibility of their enlargement. He called this not only an economic but also a geostrategic interest in light of the competition for influence with Russia and China.<\/p>\n The summit takes place against the backdrop of important changes in EU position on Ukraine<\/a> and Moldova. In particular, Hungary has lifted its veto on Ukraine's accession to the next stage of accession negotiations. This will allow the two countries to start negotiations on the first chapters of the agreement, which deal with the rule of law and democratic standards.<\/p>\n This is a landmark move for the region, as it highlights the speed and priority given to applications from Ukraine and Moldova compared to the Western Balkans, which are sometimes considered a \u00abslower\u00bb queue.<\/p>\n Montenegro is currently the most advanced country in the region in terms of membership, with a target of becoming the 28th EU member by 2028. For this reason, the EU is discussing possible restrictions for new members<\/a>, including the removal of the veto for several years to avoid blocking decisions, as was the case under the former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Albania is seen as the next contender, although some governments question the country's progress in fighting organised crime. The situation in North Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina is complicated by internal and external political disputes. Serbia, under the leadership of Aleksandar Vucic, is demonstrating a departure from European values by refusing to support sanctions against Russia.<\/p>\n Researcher at the Brussels Institute of Geopolitics Faruk Basic<\/strong> stressed that the Western Balkans region is no longer peripheral to the EU and has become a strategic priority. He noted that the war in Ukraine has radically changed the perception of enlargement, underlining its urgent geopolitical need.<\/p>\n Ba\u0161i\u0107 stressed that the accelerated granting of candidate status to Ukraine in 2022 demonstrates a new logic of enlargement that goes beyond traditional procedures.<\/p>\nParallel steps for Ukraine and Moldova<\/h2>\n
Problematic aspects on the Western Balkans' path to the EU<\/h2>\n
The geopolitical significance of EU enlargement<\/h2>\n
Disagreements among European leaders on Ukraine<\/h2>\n