The Western Balkans face a fundamental political choice between “remaining trapped in the past” and moving toward a shared future in the European Union, European Council President Antonio Costa said after the EU–Western Balkans summit in Brussels.
“Beyond the technical details of the process, this is a clear political choice – between division or reconciliation and cooperation, which are the very pillars of the European Union,” Costa said in a written statement following the summit.
He said the enlargement process is now moving faster than at any point in the past 15 years and urged countries in the region to seize the opportunity. Enlargement, he added, is a merit-based process, not a race among candidates.
“Those who move faster should not be held back by those who lag behind. On the contrary, they should set the pace and serve as an inspiration to the rest,” Costa said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “for the first time in more than a decade, enlargement has become a realistic possibility,” praising the “impressive progress” made by Montenegro and Albania.
Progress in the region
Costa mentioned all Western Balkan countries except Serbia, whose President Aleksandar Vucic chose not to attend the summit. The reasons for his absence were “not immediately clear,” Germany’s DPA news agency reported.
He highlighted the accelerated progress of Montenegro and Albania and expressed hope that North Macedonia would achieve “real progress” in 2026. On Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa said the adoption of a reform agenda this year was a key step toward access to the EU’s Growth Plan.
Regarding Kosovo, he welcomed steps taken to build trust between communities, saying upcoming parliamentary elections would be an important moment for consolidating reforms and advancing European integration.
Geostrategic investment
EU leaders and five Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo – agreed to strengthen ties, DPA said, amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical challenges.
“Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity,” the joint declaration said. It stressed that candidate countries must step up reform efforts, while the EU must simultaneously strengthen its own internal foundations.
Montenegro and Albania in the lead
Montenegro remains the frontrunner for membership, according to the latest European Commission progress report, and could conclude accession talks by the end of 2026 if it maintains its current reform pace. Albania, the Commission said, could be ready to finish negotiations by the end of 2027.
“The road ahead will not be easy – some reforms will be difficult, but they will pay off,” Costa said, adding that he believes Western Balkan partners are committed to meeting their goals.
The next EU–Western Balkans leaders’ summit is scheduled for June, in Montenegro.