EU-Western Balkans Summit - Regional leaders to discuss path to membership in Brussels
The European Union summit, to be held on Tuesday, November 4, marks a key moment for the EU's enlargement policy at the heart of Europe. In Brussels, the continent's most important political leaders will gather to discuss the 27-member bloc's expansion eastward and southeastward.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, has confirmed his participation, joining an extraordinary group of leaders who will shape the future of European enlargement. The summit will bring together the Presidents of Moldova and Serbia, Maia Sandu and Aleksandar Vuçić, the three Prime Ministers representing the Western Balkans, Edi Rama from Albania, Milojko Spajić from Montenegro and Hristijan Mickoski from North Macedonia, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos.
The event provides a unique platform where leaders of candidate countries can express their perspectives on the path to the EU. The enlargement process is not an abstract issue, it affects millions of Europeans. Serbia has been in negotiations since 2014 after applying in 2009, but public support has fallen from over 70% in the early 2000s to around 40% today. However, both Belgrade and Brussels have stressed that the country belongs in the bloc.
Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, declared in September that “for the first time in history we can freely choose which empire we want to join… the empire of rights, values, security and defense.” Albania has made significant progress since applying in 2009 and is now one of the leading countries on the path to membership, with the goal of joining the bloc by 2030.
Montenegro leads the candidates with all negotiation chapters open and seven provisionally closed since the start of talks in 2012. The government aims to complete negotiations by 2026 and achieve membership by 2028.
North Macedonia, meanwhile, has waited longer than anyone, applying in 2004, but has faced ongoing obstacles due to disputes with its neighbors. After resolving the name issue with Greece through the Prespa Agreement in 2019, Bulgaria blocked the negotiations, demanding minority recognition, language and interpretation of shared history, a key obstacle that has yet to be overcome, while public support for membership has declined.
The summit also comes at a time when most Europeans support the enlargement of the 27-member bloc. A Eurobarometer survey shows that 56% of EU citizens are in favour of enlargement, with particular support from young people. The event will explore the benefits of EU enlargement, including access to new markets with millions of consumers, expanding the EU's global political influence and strengthening democracy and European values across the continent.
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