EU must prove it is capable and willing to take in new members, leaders say
Summary
European Union leaders said the EU must show it can and wants to accept new member countries, especially from the western Balkans and Ukraine. They want to speed up the membership process and consider new ways to let candidate countries join parts of the EU before full membership.Key Facts
- EU leaders met with leaders from six western Balkan countries seeking EU membership.
- No new member has joined the EU in 13 years, which leaders see as a problem.
- Countries hoping to join include Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, and Moldova.
- The process to join the EU is long and requires approval from all 27 EU countries.
- France and Germany proposed a gradual integration plan allowing candidate countries limited participation before full membership.
- The idea includes giving new members access to some EU meetings but without voting rights initially.
- Some Balkan countries, like Serbia, have seen public support for joining the EU fall below 50%.
- EU leaders see enlargement as important for Europe’s security, energy independence, and reducing influence from Russia.
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