Vladisavljev: It would be good if clear dates for joining the Union were to be announced at the EU-Western Balkans Summit

Stefan Vladisavljev, Program Coordinator for the BFPE Foundation for a Responsible Society, stated to Kosovo Online that it would be beneficial for the Western Balkans if tomorrow’s EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels were to provide clear dates for when individual countries or the entire region might become members of the European Union.

Considering that all six Western Balkan participants will attend the meeting, Vladisavljev says that singling out any one country would send a poor political message, as not all are at the same stage in the process.

"Not all countries have candidate status. Some have obtained it relatively recently, while others are further along in the process. It would be good to establish clear dates for when individual countries or the entire region could join the EU, whether that’s in 2026, 2028, or 2030. It is crucial that the summit places the future of the enlargement process within the context of the Western Balkan countries as a whole, without favoring some over others, in order to maintain strong momentum among the countries in the region," Vladisavljev stated.

As the key messages likely to emerge from the summit, he points to the EU's continued commitment to its enlargement policy, which has gained renewed focus following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and says that, meanwhile, the Western Balkan states are expected to demonstrate readiness to actively engage in reform processes and take the necessary steps to advance their EU accession.

"Bilateral relations between the EU and candidate countries, as well as potential EU-facilitated processes, will not necessarily be the primary focus of this summit, as it mostly serves to communicate broader strategic messages. However, the messages sent to all countries will likely emphasize the importance of commitment to processes needed to bring the region closer to the EU. This includes bilateral issues, such as the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina at this moment," Vladisavljev noted.

He adds that the summit might potentially result in a new framework, such as the appointment of a new envoy for the Western Balkans or new information regarding the future course of the dialogue.

"The essence is that the dialogue is a process in itself. It might be mentioned in a broader context, but nothing will be resolved during the summit," Vladisavljev concluded.