Five member states of the European Union have called on the European Commission to reconsider how Western Balkan countries are integrated into the EU single market through a gradual, “step-by-step” accession model.
Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia circulated a confidential document among EU member states in Brussels, arguing that “strong and attractive incentives” are needed to maintain the momentum of enlargement and advance European integration.
According to the document, a “merit-based approach if necessary, step by step to the European single market represents such an incentive.”
The proposal describes the model as a “systematic sectoral integration” approach, which would allow Western Balkan countries including Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia — to participate more deeply in various EU programs while progressively aligning with EU legislation and standards.
The document states that “gradual integration” should be actively and systematically pursued once a candidate country demonstrates a high level of alignment with the EU acquis in a relevant sector.
Among the sectors proposed for deeper integration are transport, energy and electricity markets, the digital single market, competitiveness strategies and policies related to critical raw materials.
The proposal also references the youth mobility agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU as an example of a benefit that could be extended to Western Balkan countries.
The authors of the document called on Marta Kos to present further ideas and initiatives in this direction.
According to the document, the proposed approach would strengthen the EU single market, enhance the bloc’s geoeconomic relevance and strategic autonomy, while also reducing the influence of third countries in the region.
