The European Union has made it clear that there will be no compromise on rule of law standards for candidate countries such as Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia, placing them once again under scrutiny in their EU accession paths.
Despite progress in other areas, Brussels emphasizes that advancement in Chapters 23 and 24—covering judiciary, fundamental rights, and justice—remains decisive. These chapters are opened first and closed last, requiring irreversible reforms and tangible results.
The European Commission has reiterated that reforms must go beyond legislation and be effectively implemented, ensuring credibility through measurable outcomes.
Montenegro faces setbacks due to controversial amendments to laws on internal affairs and national security, which Brussels says conflict with EU data protection standards and could increase political influence over law enforcement institutions.
In Serbia, recent judicial reforms backed by Aleksandar Vučić have raised concerns in Brussels, with officials warning they undermine judicial independence and represent a step backward. The EU has urged a pause in implementation pending an opinion from the Venice Commission.
Meanwhile, Albania’s progress has been complicated by parliament’s refusal to lift the immunity of former deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku over corruption allegations. The move has drawn criticism from the EU and risks delaying a positive assessment under the IBAR mechanism, a key benchmark for rule of law progress.
According to Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, independent judiciary systems, strong anti-corruption measures, and free media are non-negotiable conditions for EU membership.
Experts warn that without genuine commitment to democratic standards, progress toward EU integration will remain stalled. While transitional mechanisms or post-accession monitoring have been used in the past, unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states remains essential—and far from guaranteed.
