The EU must soon open its doors to new members — its survival depends on it

The days when Hungary’s president Viktor Orbán could block negotiations on a whim should be over — and the western Balkans will finally benefit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a forum in Bled, Slovenia, this month that Europe’s security depends on the 27-nation union expanding again. Picture: AP/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has revived EU expansion as an imperative. For years, “enlargement” has been a low priority — Croatia was the last country to join the club, more than 10 years ago. 

But things have changed. Ursula von der Leyen told a forum in Bled, Slovenia, I attended this month that Europe’s security depends on the 27-nation union expanding again. Thanks to Vladimir Putin, as the Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama, put it, enlargement is back on track.