News: Enlargement: the non-paper on the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the EU single market

Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia have proposed a gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the European single market, with the aim of accelerating the enlargement process and countering the influence of external actors such as Russia and China.

The proposal, presented in a non-paper discussed during the “Friends of the Western Balkans” meeting in Bratislava on 12 May, envisages progressive and merit-based access to selected sectors of the EU single market, without waiting for full accession to the European Union. Integration would proceed sector by sector, as candidate countries demonstrate a high degree of alignment with the EU acquis and concrete progress on the rule of law. The areas identified include energy, transport, the digital market, critical raw materials and youth mobility.

According to the promoters, this approach would help preserve the credibility of the enlargement process by providing tangible benefits to Western Balkan countries before formal EU membership. The document also calls on the European Commission to define clear criteria and safeguard mechanisms in cases of democratic or institutional backsliding.

Photo credit: Treccani