Is a new path to enlargement possible? A look at the proposals for staged accession

Policy Brief

The author analyses the most relevant proposals – developed both within the European institutions and by independent research centres – on the staged accession methodology for the EU enlargement process toward the Western Balkans. 

The policy brief includes a summary of the discussion held at the network meeting of Friends of the Western Balkans in June 2023, putting together the different positions that emerged, the uncertainties declared, and the new proposals developed during the discussion.

Finally, the policy brief highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal, indicating which aspects can be improved.

The Balkan Focus policy brief series, published in cooperation with Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI) and Karl Renner Institut, is realised in synergy with the Friends of the Western Balkans (FoWB) project. It provides the FoWB network with background analyses on current political developments in the Western Balkan countries, as well as on the debate and process of European enlargement. The policy briefs also factor in the outcome of the debate held by the FoWB members. Three more policy briefs will be published later this year.