Germany and France Propose 'Halfway' EU Membership for Western Balkans

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have unveiled a strategic pivot in the European Union's enlargement policy. At a summit in the Montenegrin coastal town of Tivat, the leaders proposed a new 'gradual integration' model for six Western Balkan nations. This approach aims to fast-track political and economic alignment with the EU without immediately granting full membership rights, signaling a renewed effort to stabilize the region.

The Tivat Summit: A New Path to Integration

The summit marked a significant departure from the traditional, rigid accession process. Merz emphasized that the EU's 13-year stagnation in welcoming new members was a failure that needed to be overcome. The core of the new proposal is a 'strengthened gradual integration process,' where countries that meet specific criteria could join certain bloc formats, such as attending European Council meetings, without possessing full veto rights.

Key Participants: Leaders from the EU and the six Western Balkan hopefuls (Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia).
Strategic Goal: To offer a tangible path to membership to counteract the influence of Russia and instability in the region.
Proposal Origin: Co-authored by France and Germany to address the backlog of candidates.

Breaking the 13-Year Stagnation

The proposal comes after a decade of political deadlock. While Ukraine and Moldova have recently joined the queue following Russia's 2022 invasion, the Balkan candidates have faced years of bureaucratic hurdles. The new 'halfway' model is designed to restore credibility to the enlargement process.

Timeline: European Commissioner Marta Kos has set an ambitious target for Montenegro, suggesting technical negotiations could conclude by the end of 2026, leading to membership by the end of 2028.
Current Status: Montenegro and Albania are emerging as frontrunners, while Serbia and Bosnia face significant domestic and reform-related delays.
Support Gap: Euroscepticism remains a hurdle, particularly in Serbia, where public support for EU membership is below 50 percent.

Geopolitical Imperatives and Domestic Challenges

The push for integration is driven by urgent security concerns. Emmanuel Macron highlighted that the Western Balkans are critical for Europe's energy independence, security, and migration routes. By offering a faster, albeit partial, integration path, the EU aims to prevent these nations from drifting toward Russian influence.

However, the plan faces internal challenges. The 'halfway' model—where new members might not have veto rights—has been discussed as a trade-off for faster accession. This compromise is necessary to overcome the unanimity requirement of the EU, which currently stalls progress.

Montenegro as the Frontrunner and the Future of Enlargement

Montenegro is positioned to be the first beneficiary of this new strategy. With Commissioner Kos lauding its progress on technical negotiations, it is likely to set the precedent for how the 'gradual integration' model functions. If successful, this approach could become the standard for other candidates, particularly Serbia, which has maintained close ties with Russia and lags in necessary reforms.

The shift represents a pragmatic evolution in EU foreign policy, trading immediate full sovereignty for accelerated alignment and long-term strategic security.