In a joint op-ed published in German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called for an accelerated integration process of Serbia and Albania into the EU.
They described their idea as a “realistic path to the EU”, with functional partial integration serving as an intermediate step to revive the EU enlargement process and increase stability in the region.
Their joint proposal entails gradual integration into the EU’s internal market and the Schengen area, but without EU Commissioners from their countries, members of the European Parliament and the right of veto.
A full EU member state enjoys all of the above rights.
The EU accession process for Serbia and other Western Balkan countries has stalled for years, as candidate countries have not made sufficient progress on rule of law, anti-corruption measures, media freedom and judicial reforms required for EU membership.
Western Balkans ‘a new frontline for investment in EU’s stength’
“In our part of Europe, the Western Balkans – a region geographically surrounded by the EU and historically linked to Europe’s destiny – the prospect of membership remains the strongest driver for reform, investment and reconciliation,” the leaders of Serbia and Albania wrote in the article.
Addressing the EU, they said: “It is high time that the EU recognises that the Western Balkans represent a new frontline for investment in the EU’s strength”. Together, candidate countries would now seek a “realistic path” to full membership, they said.
Accelerated integration of the prepared candidate countries into the single market and Schengen area could “strengthen the EU’s economic and political position”, they argued, “without burdening the EU’s decision-making architecture”.
Serbia and Albania stated intent to reform last November
In November 2025, Euronews welcomed the heads of state and government of Albania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine as well as the President of the European Council and the EU Enlargement Commissioner to the Euronews Enlargement Summit.
The event coincided with the publication of the European Commission’s annual enlargement report. In the report, the Commission highlighted Belgrade’s lack of alignment when it comes EU sanctions against Moscow.
At the summit, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić defended his country’s commitment to reform. “I will not justify myself for having spoken to anyone,” Vučić told Euronews, referring to his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vučić sidestepped a question about protests in his country and instead emphasised the country’s strong economic performance. According to him, Serbia’s national debt has declined.
Serbia first applied for EU membership since 2009, but negotiations have since stalled. In addition to concerns over media freedom, electoral law reform and civil society, Belgrade’s foreign policy has been a source of concern for EU leaders.
Albania also emphasised at the Euronews Summit that it aims to become a full member of the EU by 2030 at the latest. “2030 is not a dream date, but a deadline based on a simple calculation,” Rama said in his speech. He added that he expects negotiations to be finalised within the next two years.
Together with Montenegro, Albania is considered one of the most promising candidates for EU accession. Tackling corruption, however, is one of Albania’s biggest challenges if it is to become an EU member.
“We accept support, partnership and help, but we don’t take lessons from anyone in the fight against corruption,” said Rama at the event in November. Since applying for EU membership, Albania has introduced instruments to combat corruption, such as the establishment of the “anti-corruption authority SPAK”.
