The European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has stated that Albania and Montenegro could finalise EU accession negotiations by 2026 or 2027, Slovenian broadcaster RTV SLO reported on March 27.

Speaking at a discussion at the EU House in Ljubljana on European enlargement policy and current geopolitical challenges, Kos highlighted security concerns, the complex geopolitical situation and the search for new approaches to EU expansion as key issues.

Kos said that today’s global landscape evokes a similar energy to the early 1990s, marked by Slovenia’s independence, the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, and Germany’s unification.

She noted that rather than using the term "enlargement", she prefers "unification of Europe", which she defines as a process grounded in shared values such as respect for the rule of law and human rights.

"For the first time, we are witnessing a situation where the traditional process of candidate countries fulfilling conditions and then joining the EU no longer applies. External forces now actively seek to block certain nations from accession — something unprecedented in past expansions," Kos remarked.

Addressing recent criticism over her meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Kos defended the decision, explaining that it is necessary to engage with all candidate countries.

She reaffirmed her commitment to guiding Serbia back towards EU integration and expressed support for Serbian protesters' demands for reforms, stating that the EU would insist on similar changes before Serbia’s accession.

Regarding the Western Balkans, Kos pointed to ongoing challenges in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

EU officials have repeatedly said that North Macedonia must amend its constitution to recognise ethnic Bulgarians as a constitutional nation, as a prerequisite for launching EU accession talks.

Kos stressed the need for stronger ties between EU member states and candidate countries, advocating for the role of sport and youth engagement in fostering European unity.

Slovenia is widely recognised in Brussels as a staunch supporter of EU enlargement, particularly concerning the Western Balkans. However, Kos noted that the EU's reputation among candidate countries has declined compared to 20 years ago when Slovenia joined the bloc.

She said that the Western Balkan nations must receive the same treatment as Ukraine and Georgia in the enlargement process. Kos criticised the EU’s slow and bureaucratic admission procedures, calling for reforms, including the possibility of approving certain decisions with a qualified majority rather than unanimity.

Additionally, she praised the role of NGOs in candidate countries, asserting that they have taken on the watchdog function previously carried out by the media. On EU security, she suggested that candidate countries could already contribute through specific development programmes and gradual integration measures.