Panel Discussion: Aiming Higher: Overcoming Challenges on the Road to EU Enlargement, 06 February 2025, Brussels

On 6 February 2025, in the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels, a panel discussion was organized among European Movement International, European Movement in Albania, and European Movement in Serbia. The event addressed the priorities and challenges for the next wave of enlargement and the work that the EU needs to carry out, with a special focus on Albania and Serbia. It brought together around 100 representatives from EU institutions, civil society organizations, social partners, and think tanks focusing on EU enlargement, rule of law, European issues, and the Western Balkans.

The activity was moderated by Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General of the European Movement International (EMI), who welcomed the participants and thanked the panelists while looking forward to the discussion and main messages to be conveyed during the activity.

Vladimir Prebilič, Member of the European Parliament from the Greens/EFA faction, emphasized during his speech that the EU is now suffering from a credibility issue. The EU is not delivering on what it promised to the Western Balkan countries, and the repetitive cases of vetoes have increased frustration and disappointment among the aspiring countries. Thus, he asked for the EU to have a more honest and transparent process and communication with these countries. On the other hand, he positively assessed the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries, noting that the Growth Plan is a solid example of this process. The Growth Plan is not just more funds; for Prebilič, it is an investment in countries that will soon be part of the EU, aimed at facilitating a swifter process of EU integration. At the end, he analyzed that EU enlargement is a national effort from member states and accession countries, should not be kept hostage by political elites, and civil society should be strengthened, with the EU increasing funding for this sector. He concluded his speech with the message that it is time for the Western Balkans to be closer to the EU.

Dragana Djurica, Secretary General of European Movement Serbia, stressed that Serbia’s integration into the European family remains the primary focus of the work of European Movement and other civil society partners in the country. These CSOs have been working for years to advocate for Serbia’s place as a fully pledged member of the EU. However, what can be assessed so far in Serbia is that, even though there has been progress on the economic chapters, Serbia has not fulfilled the criteria for fundamental issues for years; on the contrary, it has been backsliding. Another issue that Djurica mentioned is linked to the fact that the perception of the EU among Serbian citizens remains low, while communication about the benefits of EU membership is missing. While there is better support for EU integration among citizens aged 45-50 years old (with 60% of this target group supporting EU integration), two-thirds of youth are actually not in favour of it. This is a paradoxical situation, given that it is the youth who mostly aim to go, live, work, and study in the EU and member states.

Thomas Hagleitner, Head of Unit for Enlargement Strategy and Coordination at the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (ENEST) of the European Commission, started his speech by saying that “all the ingredients for enlargement are here; it just needs all parties to move forward.” He analysed the positive outcomes arising from the gradual integration approach, noting that there is now a Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and identified areas prior to accession that could be beneficial for both Western Balkan countries and the EU, such as the Single European Payment Area (SEPA), roaming agreements, and a Regional Common Market. Hagleitner emphasized that while this process takes time—calculating that there are 150 thousand pages of EU Acquis—it is essential to stress that a broad consensus on enlargement has been established to facilitate progress. He also mentioned the role of civil society organizations (CSOs), which need to be supported more by EU funds in strengthening democracy and the consultative process in their countries. He concluded that in order to be part of the EU, a fundamental criterion for aspiring countries should be fulfilled which is to have democratic institutions, a functioning parliament, and an empowered civil society sector.

Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director, European Movement Albania, started his speech by stating that the Western Balkan countries share many similarities, but there are also some differences. For example, in Albania, there has been 90% public support for the EU over the past 20 years. Another difference is that, as a region, our countries have had different stages of development, but this has not translated into the ones doing well attracting the other ones to do better. On the contrary, the idea of developing the region as a whole has faced delays, resulting in consequences for those countries that were ahead. This is the case of North Macedonia and Albania—first, North Macedonia had to wait for Albania, and then Albania had to wait for North Macedonia, creating a situation that was not a win-win. Gjipali also pointed out that the issue of the voting mechanism within the EU will affect the integration process of the region. However, he emphasized that it is important for countries not to lose focus during this transformative process. He stressed that this process concerns society as a whole, and the civil society sector has a big responsibility in explaining it. Meanwhile, Albania should not lose the good pace and momentum of a government that is willing to go forward with the process. Gjipali stated that, based on the country’s political will, there have been moments where Albania has taken one step forward and two steps backward. He concluded with the message that this process should be empowered by both parties, while the future remains uncertain, as we are living in a changing and dynamic environment, where there are many uncertainties coming not only from the enemies but also from friends.

Corina Stratulat, Associate Director and Head of the European Politics and Institutions Programme at the European Policy Centre, highlighted the role of the Berlin Process in accelerating the EU integration of Western Balkan countries. What is important to Stratulat is that both sides—EU institutions and member states, as well as Western Balkan countries—need to do their “homework” and understand that they have more in common than differences. She stated that both the EU and the Western Balkans face the same issues regarding fundamental values and the rule of law. Even these values are challenged within the EU, including human rights, justice, transparency, and corruption. Thus, the EU should be cautious not to fall into this so-called Hypocrisy Trap—pretending they are in a better place than the rest—because this will directly affect their credibility with partners in the Western Balkan region and with their own citizens.

Iliriana Gjoni, Research Analyst at Carnegie Europe, provided a broad context of the Western Balkan region concerning their accession to the European Union. She assessed that this process has had flaws for some countries, such as Kosovo, pointing out that the EU enlargement process is not actually based on its merit-based criteria but is mostly influenced by the outcomes of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and regional interests. The ongoing process for North Macedonia has also demonstrated that the EU can sometimes be unfair to accession countries. North Macedonia is now a victim of bilateral issues that are not directly linked to their progress in fulfilling EU criteria for membership. This, according to Gjoni, affects the credibility of the EU itself, diminishing it and increasing frustration and disillusionment among Western Balkan countries and their citizens. Gjoni emphasized that the EU is a project built on human rights and the rule of law, and these values should be fundamental to the EU enlargement process.

The panel discussion fostered a dynamic exchange of insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of the EU enlargement process, particularly for Albania and Serbia. Participants engaged in discussions on key issues such as the EU’s credibility, the role of civil society, the importance of gradual integration, and the need for transparent and merit-based accession processes. The debate highlighted both the progress made and the obstacles that remain, including political influences, regional dynamics, and public perceptions of the EU.