Garčević Weighs EU Enlargement Prospects Following Western Balkans Summit
Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at the Pardee School, was invited by Al Jazeera Media Network/the Arab Network to comment on the EU–Western Balkans Summit held in Tivat, Montenegro, on June 5, as well as the European Union’s approach to enlargement.
Prior to the summit, France and Germany presented a new initiative aimed at revitalizing the EU accession process by offering incentives for faster reforms. These incentives include, among other measures, privileged access to the EU single market and opportunities for candidate countries to participate as observers in EU meetings and institutions before achieving full membership.
Ambassador Garčević emphasized that the Franco-German proposal provides a much-needed impetus to the enlargement process, which has largely stalled since Croatia joined the European Union in 2013. According to Garčević, the Summit has bolstered Montenegro’s aspiration to join the EU by 2028 and positions the country as the next likely member state. He also noted that Albania could follow Montenegro in the accession process, while other candidate countries continue to face significant internal and external challenges.
Having once been a frontrunner in European integration, North Macedonia’s accession path is currently hindered by a bilateral dispute with Bulgaria. To move forward, North Macedonia must amend its constitution to formally recognize the Bulgarian minority as a constituent people. Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to struggle with internal institutional weaknesses, ethnic divisions, and the absence of broad political consensus. Serbia’s accession process remains particularly challenging due to its close ties with Russia, growing economic relations with China, and concerns regarding democratic backsliding. Meanwhile, Kosovo’s prospects are complicated by the fact that five EU member states still do not recognize its independence.
Garčević also commented on the European aspirations of Ukraine and Moldova. He noted that the recent Franco-German initiative envisages preferential treatment for both countries and an accelerated pathway through an “associate membership” or “EU membership light” framework.
His remarks can be watched here for Arabic-speaking audiences.
Vesko Garčević is a professor of the practice of international studies at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and the director of the Center for the Study of Europe. An expert on multilateral issues, Garčević is the co-author of Montenegro and Serbia: A Velvet Divorce? (Bloomsbury Academic, 2025) which explores the divergent past between Serbia and Montenegro between 1988 and 2023. To read more about his work and accomplishments, visit his faculty profile.