Citing David Sassoli, the European Parliament President, the EU leaders advocate for allowing Western Balkan states into the bloc. The policymaker sent a strong message about the positive effect from the EU expansion for the global economy.
"Enlargement can bring immense benefits both to the region and to Europe as a whole, helping to secure a stable, prosperous and peaceful continent," David Sassoli commented on the prospects of the Balkan countries joining the EU. Indeed, the Union would welcome the states with similar cultures and economies.
Nevertheless, the deadline for the entrance of the Western Balkan states to the EU depends on how they correspond to the EU criteria. "Reforms still need to be completed in every single one of these countries," the top EU official pinpointed the conditions for the applicants. At present, the EU is engaged in the accession talks with several official candidates such as Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
