European Council President Antonio Costa has called for new approaches to accelerate the European Union's enlargement process, focusing on the six Western Balkan countries seeking membership. Speaking in Belgrade during a joint press briefing with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Costa emphasized that EU expansion into the region is the bloc's most significant geopolitical investment. The six candidate nations—Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro—have been pursuing accession for years, yet none have completed the rigorous requirements. Ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, Montenegro, Costa said EU leaders would discuss ways to make the process "faster and better," though he clarified this did not mean lowering standards. He stressed the need to maintain trust and avoid frustration among candidate countries, insisting that enlargement is achievable in the coming years with increased effort.
Costa, on a pre-summit tour of Western Balkan nations, urged Serbia to strengthen democratic reforms and align its foreign policy with the EU. Serbian authorities have been warned that continued democratic backsliding could result in the loss of approximately €1.5 billion in EU funding. Meanwhile, tensions flared between candidate countries ahead of the summit. Montenegro barred 87 Serbian nationals from entering the country, citing security concerns after the group arrived in Tivat on an Air Serbia flight carrying communication equipment and pro-Serbia banners. In response, Serbia's Security and Information Agency (BIA) advised President Vucic not to attend the summit, warning of a high security risk due to alleged hostile activities by foreign intelligence services and the presence of a criminal clan in Montenegro. Montenegro, which separated from Serbia two decades ago, remains a frontrunner for EU accession but continues to grapple with corruption and Belgrade's political influence. The summit offers EU and Western Balkan leaders a platform to assess progress on integration efforts.
Antonio Costa's push for faster Western Balkan accession rings hollow while Serbia's president is told not to attend the summit over security threats from the host country. The bloc's emphasis on geopolitical investment in the region is undermined by open hostility between candidate states. Montenegro's ban on 87 Serbian entrants and Serbia's retaliatory security warning expose deep fractures the EU is not resolving. If enlargement depends on unity, the current climate among aspirants suggests the process is moving backward, not faster.
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