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Ditmir Bushati, in the next conversation at Public Square, discussed with Adnan Ćerimagić from the European Stability Initiative on the topic: EU Enlargement: Hope or Illusion?
Bushati and Ćerimagić focused extensively on statements by senior European Commission officials who have mentioned 2030 as the EU membership target for the Western Balkan countries. Both stressed that these statements do not match the content of the European Commission's own annual reports, which assess the progress of reforms and the level of compliance with EU standards.
They shared the conviction that, despite encouragement from the European Commission, the enlargement process cannot be achieved without the active involvement of EU member states and without the implementation of deep reforms in the candidate countries. According to them, member states are not yet committed to a concrete date for accession, which should be accompanied by real reform plans and structured financial support.
Following the debate, it was emphasized that the European Commission's "Growth Plan" and "Reform Agenda" are not instruments that guarantee membership, but support mechanisms aimed at bringing the Western Balkan countries closer to the level of treatment of Ukraine and Moldova. Ćerimagić emphasized that, although these plans bring some innovations in the economic field, they will not enable the structural and democratic transformation of the region, as long as there is a lack of political energy and the commitment of public administrations to implement reforms.
In conclusion, Bushati emphasized that only a combination of the political will of member states and real reforms in the region can avoid the expected disappointment of the enlargement process, turning the Western Balkans into a functional part of the European family, and not simply its periphery.
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