From EU Enlargement Fatigue to Ambiguity

Despite the EU enlargement policy framework and its declared goals, the present EU-Western Balkan political […]

Policy Brief

23/02/2021

Despite the EU enlargement policy framework and its declared goals, the present EU-Western Balkan political and socio-economic relations do not promise a swift convergence and lasting transformation of the region. On the contrary, the current economic and political set-up in the Western Balkans favours the empowerment of ‘charismatic strong men’ unchecked by democratic mechanisms. Such a model increasingly resembles the Chinese and Russian model of political capitalism.

The devastating consequences of Covid-19 outbreak have exacerbated this reality, further highlighting the shortcomings of EU policy toward the region and these countries’ economic and political divergence form EU standards.

Against this backdrop, EU enlargement framework urgently needs to be supplemented with a more progressive political agenda, to navigate through these doomy and gloomy days. The Western Balkans should be included in the EU common response to the pandemic on a number of issues, among which: health and economic recovery plans; the defense of the rule of law and democratic governance; as well as foreign policy matters.

Read the report

ℹ️ From EU enlargement fatigue to ambiguity is part of the FEPS EU enlargement publication series

Find all related publications
Publications
22/04/2025

Trade, trust, and transition: Shaping the next transatlantic chapter

Essays series by FEPS and Center for American Progress (CAP)
24/03/2025

Europe and the war in Ukraine

From Russian aggression to a new Eastern policy
06/03/2025

European defence for security and peace

Ensuring the security and well-being of its citizens is at the core of the European […]
28/02/2025

Political parties in the EU and the challenges of EU enlargement

Balkan Focus Series
Find all related Progressive Post
Progressive Post
24/04/2025

The EU’s failing test in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The ongoing constitutional coup in Bosnia and Herzegovina – engineered by the pro-Russian separatist leader […]
24/04/2025

Multilateralism between shock and rebirth

Reflections on the International Day of Multilateralism
02/04/2025

Greenland in the line of fire

US President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive attention threatens Greenland’s long quest for self-determination. Now Greenlandic […]
Find all related events
Events
Upcoming
13/05/2025
Brussels, Belgium

Financing our future: Towards the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development

While there has been progress on many aspects of the development agenda since the launch […]
Past
23/04/2025
FEPS HQ, Brussels (Expert meeting)

Funding for conflict prevention

The EU’s role as a peace actor amid shifting priorities
08/04/2025
Brussels, Belgium (Expert meeting)

A common new chapter for EU enlargement

The European political cycle that began last year has brought a shift towards the political […]
Find all related news
News
13/03/2025

Europe’s defence strategy must be peace-oriented

FEPS Position Paper on European defence
03/12/2024

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues at the 2024 Understanding China Conference

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues participated in the 2024 Understanding China Conference, “Carry through the […]
03/12/2024

Joint statement by the Friends of the Western Balkans (FoWB) 

Brussels, 3 December 2024 We, the Friends of the Western Balkans – consisting of representatives […]
15/11/2024

Ahead of G20, FEPS president at the T20 and C20 Summit 2024

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues actively participated in the T20 and C20 Summits 2024, held […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

Tévedés azt hinni, hogy Trump után visszatérhetünk a régi kerékvágásba

by telex 24/04/2025
“It’s a mistake to think we can go back to the old normal after Trump”. Interview with FEPS Secretary General László Andor in Telex (HU), where he discusses the global trade tensions triggered by Trump-era tariffs, the shifting US-China dynamic, and the need for the EU to develop a new strategic approach in a permanently changed world order.

СТРАТЕГИЯТА ЗА ОТБРАНА НА ЕВРОПА ТРЯБВА ДА БЪДЕ ОРИЕНТИРАНА КЪМ МИРА

by Novi Vremena 27/03/2025
In the article "Europe’s defence strategy must be peace-oriented", the Bulgarian media Novi Vremena highlights FEPS position on European defence strategy presented by László Andor, David Rinaldi and Beatriz Abellán.

Hungary’s Transactions in the South Caucasus

by Caucasus Watch 28/12/2024
FEPS Secretary General László Andor talks to Caucasus Watch about Hungary's role in the South Caucasus

NATO-bővítés sok vitával: érvek, ellenérvek és lobbik a Clinton-elnökség idején

by BBC History 07/07/2024
"The controversial NATO enlargement: pros, cons and lobbying during the Clinton presidency" This article, written by FEPS Secretary General László Andor, looks back to the 1990s when the Eastern enlargement of NATO was requested, discussed, orchestrated, and eventually completed.