Western Balkans EU enlargement moves forward as Albania project sparks protests

European Parliament members approved progress reports on 17 June for Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Kosovo and North Macedonia, signalling the next steps in the EU enlargement process. Montenegro is positioned as the leading candidate, aiming to conclude negotiations by 2026 and join the Union in 2028, while Albania must sustain reform momentum and close its capital‑intensive projects by the end of 2027.

In Albania, a controversial luxury resort plan on the Adriatic coast has triggered large‑scale protests, with demonstrators warning that the project infringes environmental protections and could jeopardise the country's accession prospects. The European Commission has cautioned that any breach of EU environmental standards may negatively affect Albania’s progress.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerasimenidis, speaking in Sarajevo, reiterated that Western Balkan enlargement is a top EU priority for the Greek EU Council presidency in the second half of 2027. He described the recent signing of the Declaration of Athens as a decisive step that makes accession irreversible, and announced plans for direct flights between Athens and Sarajevo to resume in October, underscoring Greece’s support for the region’s integration.