Ljubljana – Slovenia has embraced the European Commission’s enlargement reports, asserting that this expansion will bolster the EU’s strength. The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MZEZ) highlighted that extending the EU to the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe is a geostrategic imperative and supported the Commission’s recommendations for candidate nations.
MZEZ noted, “The current geopolitical landscape and various unresolved conflicts in our vicinity and globally necessitate accelerated integration processes, which will yield greater stability, security, and prosperity.” Slovenia reaffirmed its commitment to support both candidate and potential candidate countries pursuing EU membership.
The reports indicate that Montenegro is the most advanced among the Western Balkan countries on its EU accession path, aiming to finalize its negotiations by the end of next year, while Albania targets the same goal by the end of 2027. Additionally, Ukraine and Moldova are expected to be ready to commence negotiations on all chapters of the framework by year’s end.
Concerning Serbia, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos noted that the country’s reform progress has significantly stalled following widespread protests triggered by a tragic incident at the Novi Sad railway station.
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