Funded and supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the event “The Western Balkans in the EU’s Next Geopolitical Cycle: Implications for Policy and Reform Prospects”, marked the second policy dialogue in the region, following the first held in Ohrid. Bringing together 25 senior officials, diplomats, and experts from the EU and six Western Balkan countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—the discussions focused on the region’s path toward EU enlargement amid a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
The dialogue came at a critical juncture as the European Union embarked on a new political cycle. As mentioned by EUI Secretary General Marco Del Panta “With the new geopolitical landscape created by the election of the EU Parliament and new Commission, the topic of accession will be on top of the EU agenda”.
The event opened with a keynote address by Filip Ivanović, Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Montenegro, who reflected on the historic milestone achieved in June 2024 with the positive Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) and outlined future reform plans. Andreina Marsella, Italian Ambassador to Podgorica, followed by highlighting Italy's strong commitment to supporting the public administration of Montenegro and the other Western Balkan countries on their path toward EU integration, emphasising the importance of overcoming both physical and symbolic barriers.
The event unfolded across three sessions, each introduced by an EUI facilitator and further enriched by insights from Western Balkan diplomats.
Adapting European security policies to a transforming global order
With expert analysis from EUI Professor Trine Flockhart, diplomats from Sarajevo, Skopje, Podgorica, and Belgrade discussed the need to adapt European security policies and governance institutions (e.g. EU, NATO, and UN) to the challenges of a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. This includes navigating the transformation of the global rules-based order, addressing external pressures from emerging alternative orders led by Russia and China, but also fostering cooperative and effective approaches to safeguard European interests.
Accelerating reforms and build public administration capacities
The second session moderated by EUI Visiting Fellow Valbona Zeneli, highlighted the urgency of accelerating reforms in the Western Balkans to meet EU benchmarks in light of geopolitical shifts and growing Russian and Chinese influence. The EU’s plan for the Western Balkans (six billion for the period 2024–2027) should drive economic growth, governance improvements, and democratic reforms, positioning the enlargement as a strategy for regional stability, sustainable development, and strengthening of the rule of law.
Revitalising EU enlargement: overcoming fatigue and embracing momentum
The third and final session, moderated by EUI Professor Jelena Dzankic, explored the future of EU enlargement in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Participants emphasised the importance of clear accession criteria and a credible membership perspective from the EU, coupled with capacity building and bold reforms in the Western Balkans. The discussion highlighted a renewed momentum for EU enlargement, overcoming years of "enlargement fatigue", and signalling positive prospects for the region.
Next steps
The EUI will continue to support this discussion by organising the next high-level policy dialogue in the region in autumn 2025. The event will offer opportunities for further exploration and a platform for all relevant stakeholders to exchange perspectives on pressing issues on the WB.
Read more about the outcomes of the conference and other EUI initiatives in the region.