Journalist Giannis Papageorgiou published in Insider the article titled “Western Balkans: The Need but also the Fatigue on the Road to EU Accession”, with references to the recent ELIAMEP report “Europe’s Overlooked Allies: Why the Western Balkans Matter for EU Defence Readiness”, produced within the framework of the think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration.
The article examines the accession path of the Western Balkans to the EU following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the “double fatigue” both on the part of the Union, which has prioritized Ukraine, and of the candidate countries, which expect faster progress without tangible results. It outlines the varying pace of accession among the countries in the region, while also emphasizing the contribution of states such as North Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro in supporting Ukraine. Overall, it underlines the geopolitical importance of the region’s accession, even as the EU today appears more hesitant and less flexible compared to the enlargement of 2004.
You can read the article here.
Experts
