The EU's Enlargement: Why It Stopped and the Need for a Clear Target

The EU's enlargement process, once seen as a flagship project, has largely stalled since the 2004 wave of new members. The EU's cautiousness towards enlargement can be attributed to global crises, such as financial crises, migration crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which have diverted attention and forced the EU to address its challenges. Internal factors, including the rise of populism and nationalism, bilateral issues, and democratic backsliding in some member states, have also hindered the enlargement process. Concerns over money, voting rights, and decision-making have further slowed down the process. However, there is growing support for the idea of gradual integration, allowing candidate countries to join EU policies and programs as they progress in their accession process.