Just confirmed: EU enlargement underway

Kos, speaking in Montenegro at the opening of the event titled “The Western Balkans in a Changing Europe,” emphasized that EU enlargement is a strategic undertaking.

She congratulated Montenegro on the government’s progress in implementing reforms, noting that the country has closed 18 negotiating chapters, with several more expected to be closed at the next intergovernmental conference in mid-October.

“You are now in the final stretch, so save all your energy for the negotiations ahead. This achievement in Montenegro has created new momentum for enlargement across the Western Balkans,” Kos said at the event.

She added that Albania is also part of this new momentum.

“Your country is making very good progress on the reform path. All negotiating chapters have been opened, and we have already closed three, while many more are expected to be closed this year. I can say that 2026 is already a record year when it comes to enlargement. In the nine months of this year, we have opened or closed more chapters than in any previous year over the past 25 years,” Kos said.

She noted that she is sometimes asked how to reconcile the geopolitical need for enlargement with the merit-based principle, and replied that there is no conflict between the two and that they go “hand in hand.”

“Geopolitics determines why enlargement is important and how urgently we need to act. And we adhere to the merit-based principle, because merit determines the conditions, as well as who is ready to join and when. When we consider the benefits of enlargement, we also think about security. That is a key element,” Kos said.

She said that we live in a world of intense geostrategic competition, where old alliances are fading and new ones are emerging.

“Interdependence is being weaponized, and we are also facing direct attacks on our democracy and way of life. The enlargement process is essentially about taking control of Europe’s own destiny,” Kos said.

She added that the goal is to be a strong trading bloc, because no European country could survive on its own.

“Regional integration and good-neighborly relations are an indispensable part of our security and internal cohesion. That has been at the heart of the Berlin Process from the very beginning, and that spirit is present here today as well. Another important element is convergence. Alignment with EU standards means a favorable business environment and the rule of law. This brings predictability and legal certainty, leading to investment, growth, new jobs and prosperity,” Kos said.

According to her, a new IMF study, published this month, projects that the first ten years of EU membership could lead to a one-third increase in GDP per capita, and after 15 years, an increase of almost half.

“That is the level reached by the countries that joined the Union in 2004. EU member states also benefited significantly,” Kos said.

She also announced that the European Commission will present additional ideas on how gradual integration can be expanded next week, on October 6. The basic idea is “more Europe before membership,” although, she said, this would not constitute a replacement for full membership.

“That must be clear. The EU offers a common future in which conflicts of the past become less important. Do not forget that EU integration is a space for reconciliation. We must not forget that European integration was built on the decision of former enemies to heal the wounds of the past,” she said.

She also said that this represents a major opportunity for the Western Balkans.

“Where neighbors jointly confront the legacy of the past, old divisions can gradually disappear, and that is crucial for the internal cohesion and social stability of an enlarged European Union. So let us resolve outstanding bilateral issues in the spirit of the Berlin Process, through good-neighborly relations, regional integration, mutual trust and cooperation. Let us seize this opportunity for EU enlargement, for the sake of the future of this and coming generations,” Kos said.