EU seeks ways to speed up Western Balkans membership process
Deutsche Welle reports that EU leaders are working on a new formula to grant the six Western Balkan candidate countries partial single-market integration ahead of full membership. The plan aims to limit Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
Based on Deutsche Welle's interviews in Brussels, the European Commission plans to present a proposal in October for a phased membership formula covering Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The plan envisages early access for the candidates to selected sectors of the single market and to EU programmes such as Erasmus and Horizon.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said in Berlin meetings that the approach would reduce 'fatigue around enlargement'. There are counter-voices: the Netherlands and France expressed concern that rule-of-law standards could be softened. Germany's new federal government said it backed the process on grounds of 'economic reality'.
Growing Russian influence and Chinese infrastructure investment in the region in recent months are pushing Brussels toward a firmer step. Diplomats say the accelerated formula will be formally discussed at the EU leaders' summit in October. This is not investment advice.
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