The European Commission is drafting new enlargement reform proposals that may use Montenegro as a test case for the bloc's expansion process [1].
These reforms arrive as the EU attempts to balance the strategic need for growth in the Western Balkans against internal concerns regarding migration and institutional stability. The outcome could either streamline the path for candidate nations or create new hurdles that complicate their entry into the union.
More than 30 European leaders met in Tivat, Montenegro, on June 5 [2]. The summit included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen [1, 2]. The discussions centered on how the bloc can regain the initiative in the enlargement debate while ensuring new members meet strict criteria.
Some officials argue for a more streamlined approach to prevent candidate countries from losing momentum. António Costa said the bloc needs to "accelerate" its enlargement to show Western Balkan partners it is "serious" about turning their EU ambitions into a reality [3].
However, other proposals suggest tightening migration rules and introducing new safeguards, which could slow the process [4]. There is a tension between the desire for a strategic expansion and the implementation of more rigid requirements. A spokesperson for the European Commission said the Commission wants to avoid placing the burden of new safeguards discussions solely on Montenegro [1].
If these enlargement goals are realized, the European Union could eventually grow to include 33 countries [2]. The current focus remains on whether the reform process will facilitate this growth or serve as a mechanism to delay it through increased scrutiny.
“The bloc needs to "accelerate" its enlargement to show Western Balkan partners it is "serious".”
The EU is facing a strategic dilemma between geopolitical expansion and institutional preservation. By considering Montenegro as a test case for new safeguards, the Commission is attempting to create a scalable model for accession that addresses migration concerns without alienating Balkan allies. The tension between accelerating the process and tightening rules suggests that future enlargement will likely be conditional on a new set of more stringent, yet standardized, benchmarks.
