Ukraine’s accession prompts EU to consider gradual Western Balkans integration

Brussels – Enlargement, caught between necessity and uncertainty, the European Union is trying to push forward the accession process of additional European countries as part of its anti‑Russia strategy, a path that brings no shortage of problems for the foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. There is a political will to bring Ukraine into the twelve-star club, as expressed by the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos: “We propose to open all the clusters,” that is to say the groups of negotiating chapters , with “the first of which is already under the Cypriot presidency,” and therefore by the end of June, “and the others in July,” she explained on the sidelines of the meeting. A stance shared by Lithuania, with Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys agreeing to “open the six clusters for Ukraine.” 

Not everyone around the table is quite so enthusiastic, however, as Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister, Xavier Bettel, points out, urging caution: “We must be cautious; there are rules to be followed, and we must explain this to the countries of the Western Balkans.”Clarifications are necessary because some countries applied for EU membership long before Ukraine and now see Kyiv moving ahead at full speed, with all the risks that entails. That’s why Bettel is extending a hand to Montenegro, the most advanced candidate state. “We cannot say that Montenegro and other candidate countries must depend on Ukraine’s accession. If the criteria are met, Montenegro must be able to join.”   The issue of enlargement is also dominating the agenda because of the meeting convened by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, with representatives from the Western Balkan countries, who are seeking assurances and pointing out that accession is in itself a guarantee of security for the European Union. This is emphasised in particular by Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Glauk Konjufka, who denounces “Russian influence” in the region, which is why “EU enlargement must be seen as a strategic necessity” for everyone. He is calling for candidate status, and doing so forcefully: “Give us the questionnaire.” However, the request is likely to be put on hold.

 The issue of recognition as an independent and sovereign state hangs over Kosovo. Currently, five EU member states – Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain – do not recognise Kosovo, along with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Moldova. The road to EU accession is an uphill struggle for the authorities in Pristina, but North Macedonia is also calling for a change of pace: “We have already made tangible progress,” claims Skopje’s Foreign Minister, Timcho Mucunski, who is calling for “making the process bilateral.” This involves revising the rules for accession, which the EU is currently considering.

Brussels and the capitals are beginning to consider “gradual” integration, a way of bringing candidate countries as far as possible into the European Union, perhaps by allowing them to attend meetings without voting rights until accession is granted. “We have methods that are 40 years old,” Commissioner Kos admits. “Today, we live in different times, times of war, and we have no time. We are in a phase of in-depth discussion with Member States to see where we can proceed with gradual integration, such as the single market and security.“