The days when Viktor Orbán could block negotiations on a whim should be over – and the western Balkans should finally benefit, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci
The days when Viktor Orbán could block negotiations on a whim should be over – and the western Balkans should finally benefit” has been a low priority – Croatia was the last country to join the club, more than 10 years ago. But things have changed.a forum in Bled, Slovenia I attended this month that Europe’s security depends on the 27-nation union expanding again. Thanks to Vladimir Putin, as the Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama, put it, enlargement is back on track.
It is about 20 years since six western Balkan countries and North Macedonia are members of Nato, while Bosnia and Kosovo have a large Nato presence. It is a very different scenario from Europe’s east, where the absence of Nato’s shield to protect Ukraine, Moldova and the Caucasus means these countries view EU membership as a surrogate security guarantee.
Yet, in important ways the latest momentum around EU enlargement is helping Balkan countries that aspire to join. Had it not been for the invasion of Ukraine, accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia would certainly still be stuck, and Bosnia and Herzegovina would not have.
Most important, steps must be taken to eject the main poison from existing enlargement policy. For too long, enlargement has been hijacked by the whims of existing members seeking to promote their national interests.
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