Europe’s Next Enlargement

Recent debates in Brussels – sparked by the European Commission’s proposals to fast-track Ukraine’s EU entry and overhaul the accession framework – have prompted renewed scrutiny of enlargement policy by national governments. Departing from the regular process could offer both new opportunities and risks for the “older” Western Balkan candidates. This policy brief examines perspectives on enlargement in three key member states – Germany, France, and the Netherlands – and ­offers recommendations on how to move forward.