Most citizens who support EU enlargement believe that their country would benefit from it.
The benefits of enlargement include a stronger global influence, a larger market for EU companies, more employment opportunities, and greater solidarity and security.
At the same time, respondents express concerns regarding migration, corruption and crime, and the financial costs of enlargement.
They stress the importance of ensuring that candidate countries respect the rule of law, fight corruption and protect fundamental rights, all of which are essential elements of a credible and merit-based accession process.
Reform of the enlargement process
The survey also showed that 67 percent of citizens believe they are not well informed about enlargement.
"The results show that EU citizens, especially younger people, support enlargement. The Eurobarometer sends another clear message: people want a credible, values-based process, driven by real reforms. Together with Member States, we will engage directly with citizens, address their concerns and demonstrate how enlargement brings peace, prosperity and a more united Europe," said Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
The New Union Post, a portal that exclusively deals with the enlargement of the European Union, announced that the European Commission will present a new proposal for reforming the enlargement process by the end of the year.
They write that the Union's leaders are aware that EU reforms were needed before, and with the eventual enlargement of the EU "they become irreplaceable".
While the Commission's proposal is awaited, the European Parliament is working on a report on the need for internal reform. Otherwise, the enlarged European Union "risks paralysis" and the existing problems of efficiency, democracy and functioning "would certainly increase further", writes the Post.
Candidates
Of the existing candidate countries, Turkey was the first to submit an application for EU membership, back in 1987. It has had candidate status since 1999, and began negotiations at the same time as Croatia, in 2005.
But they have never made real progress, and have been frozen since 2018 due to "democratic setbacks". This is still the case today, without a realistic desire from either side to change the situation.
This does not hinder economic cooperation, as Turkey is the EU's fifth largest external trading partner, with trade reaching a record high of more than 210 billion euros in 2024.
The countries of the Western Balkans are the most active in the process of expansion.
Montenegro has fulfilled the provisional conditions (Chapters 23 and 24), its goal is to join the EU by 2028.
In 2025, Albania rapidly opened negotiation clusters - as many as 24 out of 33 chapters, and its goal is to complete the negotiations by 2027.
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo lag behind.
It is questionable whether Serbia wants to complete the negotiations at all; it has not aligned its foreign policy with that of the European Union, especially regarding sanctions against the Russian Federation after the aggression on Ukraine. There is also a questionable state of human rights, freedom of the media, with open denunciations of some EU countries as being behind the alleged "color revolution" in Serbia.
BiH applied for EU membership in February 2016, and was granted candidate status in December 2022. Two years later, the EU decided to open negotiations, but on the condition that BiH complete a series of reforms (rule of law, electoral law, judiciary, fight against corruption, etc.).
The negotiating framework was not adopted due to political blockade and conflicts between the entities, especially moves from Republika Srpska that weaken state institutions, and slow implementation of European reforms, along with a lack of stability and trust in the judiciary.
North Macedonia received candidate status in 2005, but for years the start of negotiations was blocked due to a dispute with Greece over the name of the state. Now, on the other hand, it is being blocked by Bulgaria due to a dispute over constitutional amendments and minority rights.
Kosovo applied for EU membership on December 15, 2022, and currently has the status of "potential candidate," not formal, primarily because it is not recognized by five EU members (Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus). As a result, the accession process is blocked.
Eastern neighborhood
There is also a group of countries that one day want to become EU members, called the "Eastern Neighbourhood". It is difficult to expect that they will enter the Union in the foreseeable future, but it is strategically important not to close the door to them.
"Eastern neighborhood" refers to the European Union's policy towards Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Launched in 2009 as part of the European neighborhood policy, its goal is to strengthen political ties, economic integration and reforms, but not necessarily full EU membership.
However, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, three countries (Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia) received candidate status, and EU accession became a priority. Other countries have more limited relations due to political reasons.
The greatest public support for EU accession is recorded in Albania, with the latest polls showing that as many as 9 out of 10 respondents want the country to join the EU.
Support for the EU among Montenegrin citizens is generally very high, usually between 76-80%, with strong optimism (75-76%) that membership will be achieved.
The biggest drop in support for joining the EU is recorded in Serbia, according to relevant polls, about 40% of the population wants the country to join the Union.
Hardly until 2030.
Zselyke Csaky, director of the European program at Freedom House, says she does not see a realistic possibility of EU enlargement anytime soon because she does not believe it is possible to reach a consensus on it.
"If the EU wants to expand in this decade – especially by 2030 – it must reform the process of admitting new candidates and provide more support for strengthening fragile democracies. The gap between official EU reports and public statements by leaders about a fast-track process is not sustainable," she said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said several times that enlargement contributes to peace and better relations.
"The tense geopolitical situation forces us to complete the reintegration of our continent under the same values of democracy and the rule of law. We have already taken great steps towards the integration of new members in the last few years. Enlargement will remain a priority of the new Commission," she said.
Analysts estimate that the first enlargement, involving Montenegro and Albania, is possible by 2030, but they believe that it is more likely only in the middle of the next decade.
Photo: EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
