Lead

European Union leaders gathered in Tivat, Montenegro, on Friday for a summit with their counterparts from six Western Balkan countries, pledging to accelerate the integration of the region into the bloc. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who attended alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, told reporters: "The clear message of today is, and will remain: We want you. And we want this region, and the states within it, to become members of the European Union soon." The summit comes as the EU seeks to demonstrate that enlargement is a priority, with the war in Ukraine reinvigorating the bloc's interest in expansion.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, and The Guardian all highlight the EU's commitment to the Western Balkans, with a focus on the proposed 'gradual integration' process. The coverage emphasizes that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has reframed the EU's approach to enlargement, turning it into a geopolitical and security issue. The Guardian reports that EU leaders aim to show the six countries—Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro—that they have a real chance of joining, despite internal splits over how to handle the process.

Deutsche Welle's coverage quotes European Council President Antonio Costa saying the EU needs to speed up the membership process and improve the methodology "to move forward faster and better." Costa stressed that this did not mean making the process "easier." The outlet also reported on warnings to Serbia about potential loss of EU funds if it fails to halt democratic backsliding.

A key point of discussion is the idea of 'gradual integration,' which would allow candidate countries to join EU structures and policies in stages, rather than all at once. As reported by The Guardian, the EU is also considering safeguards on new members, including potentially denying them veto rights for several years, to prevent a repeat of the bloc's experience with Hungary, whose previous government vetoed several major decisions.

Key Claims

  • The EU plans to initiate a gradual integration process for six Western Balkan countries, as stated by Chancellor Merz and supported by multiple sources.
  • The six candidate countries are Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
  • The summit in Tivat focused on ways to improve the methodology for faster and better progress in the membership process.
  • Serbia has been warned it could lose around €1.5 billion in EU funds if it doesn't halt democratic backsliding, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • Ukraine's path to EU membership is seen as unique due to its status as a country at war, with some proposing 'associate membership' as an interim step.
  • Montenegro is the most advanced in its EU membership quest and hopes to join by 2028, according to multiple sources.
  • The EU could deny future member states veto rights for several years, a proposal reported by The Guardian and under consideration by the European Commission.

Perspectives

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

Merz emphasized the EU's commitment to the Western Balkans, stating that the region "belongs within the EU's future." He called for "innovative solutions" to speed up accession, including the idea of 'associate membership' for Ukraine, and noted that the fact no new members had joined for 13 years showed "shortcomings" in the bloc.

European Council President Antonio Costa

Costa described enlargement as "the most important geopolitical investment that the European Union is doing" and insisted that the process must be made faster and better, without becoming easier. He stressed the need to avoid a "feeling of frustration" among candidate countries and the EU itself.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Von der Leyen said the EU needs "to make the enlargement process faster and more credible," echoing the broader sentiment of the summit.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos

Kos said the EU is moving beyond rhetoric on enlargement, pointing to the establishment of a working group to draft Montenegro's accession treaty as proof. She acknowledged that the bloc is still using a methodology developed four decades ago and is discussing whether 'gradual integration' principles could be applied more broadly.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

Vucic, who met with Costa in Belgrade ahead of the summit, was told that Serbia needs to boost democratic reform and align its foreign policy with the EU. Serbia has been warned about potential loss of EU funds if it doesn't halt democratic backsliding.

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović

Milatović welcomed the leaders to his country, which is the most advanced in its EU membership quest and hopes to join by 2028. He highlighted Montenegro's progress and the importance of the summit for the region.