This debate examined how the European Union can reconcile geopolitical urgency with the principles of conditionality, ensuring that enlargement remains both credible and strategically effective.
The debate explored the evolving role of EU enlargement policy in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and changing global alliances, enlargement has re-emerged as a strategic priority for the European Union. The discussion addressed whether the current momentum can be sustained and how geopolitical considerations are reshaping the enlargement agenda.
A central focus was the tension between the political imperative to advance enlargement and the procedural requirements underpinning the EU’s conditionality framework. Particular attention was given to the fundamentals of the accession process—rule of law, democratic governance, and public administration reform—which continue to determine both the credibility and pace of accession.
Drawing on experiences from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries, the debate examined the challenges of implementing conditionality in practice, including issues of consistency, credibility, and domestic political constraints in candidate countries.
The discussion also explored potential adaptations of the enlargement methodology, including forms of staged or gradual integration, and assessed their compatibility with the existing legal framework of the EU. These reflections were framed within a broader consideration of enlargement as a mutually transformative process, shaping both candidate countries and the Union itself.
This initiative is part of the EUI Science for Policy Interface.
Key takeaways
· Enlargement policy is increasingly shaped by geopolitical considerations, but its credibility depends on maintaining robust conditionality.
· The implementation of the fundamentals remains uneven and continues to be the main determinant of progress in accession processes.
· There is growing interest in more flexible or staged approaches to enlargement, although these raise legal and political constraints.
· Enlargement should be understood as a mutual transformation process, affecting both candidate countries and the European Union.
· Managing expectations and timelines remains a key challenge, given the structural complexity and duration of accession procedures.