Timcho Mucunski calls for strategic EU enlargement in Western Balkans

At the Bled Strategic Forum, Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski emphasized that European Union and NATO membership are vital for the security and stability of the Western Balkans. He argued that EU enlargement must be approached as a strategic necessity rather than a bureaucratic process, urging the Union to restore its credibility through clear political will.

Mucunski stated that candidate countries should be evaluated based on their merits, reforms, and alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. He noted that integration should serve as a model for institutional transformation rather than an attempt to change regional identities.

Addressing regional security, Mucunski highlighted the importance of NATO membership for information sharing and collective resilience. He also pointed to geopolitical risks, including Russian aggression in Ukraine and the influence of China and Iran, while stressing the strategic importance of transport corridors VIII and X for economic and political stability.