Analyst: European Political Community to Tighten Ties with Candidates but without Expediting Integration Process

Suzana Grubjesic (BETA/Medija Centar Beograd)

The purpose of the European Political Community, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting in Prague, the Czech Republic, next month is to maintain closer ties with states seeking membership in the European Union (EU), but there is no indication that the accession process could be accelerated, Suzana Grubjesic from the Center for Foreign Policy said on Sept. 9.

The first meeting of the European Political Community, which was conceived by French President Emmanuel Macron, will take place during a two-day summit of EU leaders in Prague, set to start on Oct. 6. Grubjesic told BETA that common political and security challenges would be discussed during the first informal meeting of the Community.

According to this analyst, the initiative is a response to applications for EU membership by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. “Almost seven months have passed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the European Political Community plans on securing closer ties with EU candidates, but there has been no sign so far that their formal accession to the EU might be accelerated,” Grubjesic said.

“The move is a signal to the Western Balkans that the Union’s enlargement policy is largely a geopolitical issue, opening room for more active roles by third actors and weakening the potential for reforms in states that entered the accession process a long time ago,” Grubjesic said. She also explained that a decision to open talks with North Macedonia and Albania had made it clear that the EU was aware that more than a vague European perspective had to be offered to the region at large.