“There’s pressure on both sides to deliver – The EU and the candidate states – and the EU will be doing more gradual integration because it cannot deliver on the big picture yet”
In the new episode “The EU’s enlargement reality check” of “The Neighbourhood” podcast, the New Europe Center Senior Fellow and ECFR Visiting Fellow Leo Litra joins Tiago Antunes and Engjellushe Morina, hosted by Jessica Hendrick, to discuss what this year’s EU Enlargement Package really tells about Brussels’ expectations and developments inside candidate countries.
Leo Litra highlighted several key insights:
- New EU deadlines inject fresh momentum into the process. The self-established timelines by Montenegro (2026), Albania (2027), and Ukraine and Moldova (2028) bring much-needed political energy back into enlargement after years of stagnation.
- Kyiv and Chisinau are advancing rapidly, despite wartime pressures in Ukraine and internal challenges. At the same time, future progress will depend on how effectively both countries implement the European Commission’s recommendations and strengthen institutional capacity.
- Georgia stands out as the “sad story” of this year’s package, where government decisions are drifting away from the European aspirations of Georgian citizens.
- The EU itself needs reform. The current methodology — requiring unanimity at every step — leaves the process vulnerable to political blockages. This undermines the credibility of merit-based accession.
- Public support for enlargement is on the rise. According to the latest Eurobarometer, 56% of EU citizens support future enlargement. Notably, security has become the top perceived benefit – an area where Ukraine is seen not only as a beneficiary, but as a contributor to Europe’s security.
Leo Litra underscored that pressure today comes from both sides: candidate countries expect clarity and fairness, while the EU expects concrete results. In response, Brussels is increasingly promoting gradual integration – from SEPA payments and roaming to new growth plans for the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine.
