Comparing the Western Balkan States Towards EU Accession
A workshop on Europe's role in the Western Balkans
Dec 04, 2025 / Vienna / EU Neighbourhood
On 4 December, the AIES, together with the Austrian Ministry of Defence (BMLV), held a workshop on “Comparing the Western Balkan States in Terms of Progress Toward EU Accession.” The event brought together leading regional experts to assess how domestic politics, identity narratives and geopolitical pressures are shaping the next phase of EU enlargement.
Opening contributions highlighted that enlargement fatigue in the EU and reform fatigue in the region now reinforce one another. Albania’s trajectory was presented as a case where ambitious reforms, such as the sweeping justice overhaul, coexist with persistent political polarisation, demographic decline and economic vulnerabilities. Bosnia-Herzegovina, by contrast, remains constrained by institutional tensions, attempts to weaken state-level competences and declining trust in externally imposed governance mechanisms. North Macedonia illustrated how identity-based disputes and repeated blockages have eroded confidence in the EU, generating societal frustration despite broad formal support for accession.
Speakers noted an emerging shift in Brussels, with Albania and Montenegro increasingly viewed as frontrunners. While this approach aims to demonstrate that enlargement is still viable, it risks accelerating divergence within the region if other candidates face continued stagnation. Internal EU discussions on decision-making, the need to update outdated accession instruments and wider geopolitical pressures, particularly Russia’s influence, further complicate the strategic environment.
Throughout the workshop, a central theme emerged: the erosion of credibility in the accession process. When reforms fail to produce visible progress, societal trust weakens, political incentives diminish and alternative narratives gain space. Participants agreed that restoring confidence requires clear rewards for genuine reforms, deeper political engagement from the EU and sustained attention to the societal and identity dimensions of integration, not only its technical aspects.
In conclusion, speakers agreed that the future of EU enlargement depends on renewed strategic commitment on both sides. Western Balkan governments must advance substantive reforms despite domestic constraints, while the EU must modernise its tools, strengthen political support and ensure that the region is not left vulnerable to internal fragmentation or external geopolitical competition.
Speakers included:
- Zoran Nechev, Policy and Advocacy Fellow, Think Europe; Senior Researcher, Institute for European Politics
- Ivan Nikolovski, PhD Researcher, Central European University
- Alba Brojka, Executive Director, UN Association Albania
- Adnan Cerimagić, Senior Analyst, European Stability Initiative
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