Russia's war in Ukraine revived the EU plans to become even larger - CNBC

About it reports the edition of SNBC. Western Balkans, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia, are a significant white spot on the European Union membership map in the Southeastern Europe.

Despite the constant submission of applications, each of these countries to obtain the status of a candidate or a potential candidate for EU members since the collapse of the Yugoslavia Socialist Federation in 1992, the EU membership movement was slowly moving. "I see that the European Union is more ready for the Balkans than the Balkans to the European Union," says EU special representative from Western Balkans Miroslav Laichak.

Introduction to the block is a complex and often long process that includes several stages of negotiations and reforms. Its purpose is to achieve the compliance of the candidate state with the norms and standards of the European Union in the field of judicial, administrative and economic activity.

According to Laichak, in the past, the Western Balkans did not decide to carry out such reforms because of distrust of the real possibility of achieving the European future or fulfilling all the necessary requirements. However, everything has changed with the beginning of military conflict on the threshold of Europe in February 2022. "Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have brought fresh energy and affection - what was almost lost in the Balkans," Miroslav Laichak said.

A few days after February 24, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have submitted requests for recognition of their status as a candidate for joining the European Union. Despite the fact that these three countries are located outside the Western Balkans, being part of the former Eastern Bloc, Laichak stated that it was necessary to promote the region in the context of the negotiations on possible entry.

The accelerated EU expansion will occur at the moment when the block seeks to strengthen its position in view of the war in Ukraine and the split of world order. According to Laichak, this has led to the atmosphere in Brussels became "more political. " In addition, Moscow and Beijing seek to strengthen their economic and political influence in the Western Balkans, trying to destabilize the situation in the region as a whole.

But Laichak insists that none of these countries can compete with Brussels in terms of investment and trade offers. "A reliable expansion process is the best answer to third parties' intervention," Laichak said. It should be noted that on December 27, Zelensky stated that Ukraine is perhaps the most difficult in Europe to become a member of NATO. According to him, diplomats will have to solve the problem with the future membership of Kiev in the Alliance.