Dossier
western Balkan countries
Coverage of western Balkan countries in the Nexus archive.
- EU leaders at Balkan summit optimistic about rapid expansion
EU leaders, including German Chancellor Merz and Commission head Von der Leyen, expressed optimism about accelerating the integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU. Merz emphasized better integration for full membership, while Von der Leyen advocated for a faster enlargement process.
- EU could deny new member states veto rights as bloc pushes for enlargement
The EU is considering denying new member states veto rights on foreign policy and other unanimous decisions to address concerns from skeptical countries like France. The European Commission's proposal aims to make enlargement politically feasible, particularly for prospective members such as Moldova and western Balkan countries.