The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has issued a stark warning, stating that the Western Balkans must be quickly integrated into the EU or risk encountering a “New Iron Curtain.”

Speaking to ENW as the bloc celebrates 20 years since the significant 2004 enlargement, during which 10 countries were guaranteed membership, Michel emphasized the critical importance of expansion for the EU’s future.

“Expansion is vital for the future of the EU because without it, we risk a new Iron Curtain, which would be extremely perilous, especially with neighbors lacking prosperity and economic development. These are shared interests of candidate countries, and the EU must make progress in expediting the process. I am confident because I feel that European leaders, or the majority of them, are convinced that this is important for the future,” declared Charles Michel.

Nine countries are awaiting accession to the European Union, including war-torn Ukraine. However, the accession process is lengthy and complex, not to mention that full membership requires unanimous approval from member states.

Hungary has already threatened to use its veto power to block Ukraine’s accession, but Michel is confident that this won’t halt the bloc from considering the candidacies.

“For example, we have used abstention, which gives a country the opportunity to make its opinion public despite any reservations it may have about a decision, but without blocking the overwhelming majority of member states who would like to make progress in certain areas,” said Michel.

Previously, Michel stated that the EU should be ready to accept new members after 2030. However, this week he mentioned that countries making sufficient progress could join the bloc within this decade.

“I have great confidence that the upcoming institutional cycle will be an opportunity to reaffirm our common political will to expand,” Michel was quoted as saying.

/k.s/