Security threats to the EU from Russia and China have proven to be a game-changer for enlargement policy.
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Russia's aggression in Ukraine and growing Chinese interference show the EU needs to expand over the next five years, governments inside and outside the bloc say.
Montenegro President Jakov Milatovic and Austrian European Minister Carolin Etstadler spoke to Euronews at the Forum Alpbach, an annual policy conference in the state of Tyrol.
Milatovic said 2028 was a clear, ambitious but realistic target for the country's EU accession.
He said he was very optimistic that further chapters, including the detailed policy conditions needed for EU membership, could be completed by the end of the year, saying “we can get what we need done (to fully meet the accession conditions) by 2028.”
But he also said he was hopeful that “the general momentum that now exists in Brussels in the wake of Russia's aggression in Ukraine has finally made it clear to Brussels, like many European capitals, that enlargement is about the security of the continent.”
The security benefits of EU enlargement are also pointed out by existing member states.
“Since the start of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, external pressure on our domestic security has also increased. This factor is the real driver of the accession process,” Ed Stadler said.
“This has led to a complete change of mindset among member states far from the Western Balkans, who now immediately recognise the impact and importance of this region on the overall security of Europe,” she added.
“We are seeing growing Chinese and Russian influence” in Serbia and other Western Balkan countries, Ed Stadler said.
“They are working with these countries on infrastructure projects, but as the European Union we do not want this to escalate, so we need to show the Western Balkans our commitment to the accession process.”
Milatovic said Montenegro's EU membership was “a bigger story than Monaco” and that it was necessary to show candidate countries behind in the queue “that membership is possible, it is achievable and success stories are important”.
“If you ask me why I am doing this, I say it is to get Montenegro into the EU as soon as possible,” Milatovic added.
