EU enthusiasm has evaporated. Prioritizing Ukraine reinforces the impression of pure symbolism in the Union’s waiting room.
At least the self-proclaimed lawyers of the EU candidates in the Western Balkans are concerned about preferential treatment for Ukraine ahead of this week’s EU summit. With the argument that the Western Balkans deserve the same “special treatment as Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia”, Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob called for a “faster integration process” for all EU candidate countries in the region: Ljubljana will work at the EU summit to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina should be granted candidate status together with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
One must “avoid the impression” that some countries “have been standing on the breakdown lane for years” and that Ukraine “is passing them by,” Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg warns against “tunnel vision”: “We are in favor of putting the Balkans on this road.” to take with you on the trip.”