Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Wednesday that European Union accession talks with Western Balkan countries are taking unnecessarily long, arguing that prolonged delays risk undermining the bloc’s security interests and credibility in the region.
Speaking ahead of an EU–Western Balkans summit in Brussels, Babis said it would make sense for candidate countries to join the EU’s Schengen passport-free travel area before completing full membership negotiations.
“In terms of Europe’s security, it would be better if these countries entered Schengen first and only then negotiated EU accession,” Babis said.
The European Union pledged in 2003 to integrate the Western Balkans following the wars of the 1990s, but progress has been slow. Of the seven countries in the region, only Croatia has joined the bloc, in 2013.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia are all seeking EU membership, though they are at different stages of the accession process. Montenegro and Albania are currently seen as frontrunners, while Serbia’s talks have stalled amid concerns over reforms and foreign policy alignment.
EU officials have defended the pace of enlargement, insisting that accession remains a merit-based process tied to reforms on the rule of law, governance and democratic standards. Several member states have also expressed caution about further expansion, citing institutional capacity and internal EU reforms.
The debate over enlargement has gained urgency as the EU seeks to counter growing geopolitical influence from Russia and China in the Western Balkans and strengthen stability along its southeastern flank.
EU leaders are expected to discuss enlargement, security cooperation and regional integration at the Brussels summit later on Wednesday.