March 11, 2026.

Published by IP Quarterly and The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in March 2026, this article by Milan Nič and Nikola Xaviereff analyzes the evolution of Germany’s position on EU enlargement in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the reform of the accession process.

The article shows that Germany is gradually adopting a more proactive approach, balancing accession criteria with geopolitical challenges. Berlin is now more supportive of the gradual integration of candidate countries, while promoting a differentiated approach based on their level of progress. This shift reflects the desire to maintain the legitimacy of the enlargement process without undermining the Union’s institutional and political requirements.

The article is based on an upcoming DGAP Policy Brief “Europe’s Next Enlargement: What Berlin, Paris, and The Hague Really Think”, out on March 17, 2026, available here.

You can find the article “On EU Enlargement, Germany Is Starting to Move” by Milan Nič and Nikola Xaviereff here.