9 September 2026

DGAP

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the European Union can set itself on a sustained and credible enlargement path. As geopolitical pressures and shifts reshape the continent’s architecture, Brussels faces a time-sensitive imperative to advance its integration agenda and re-energize the reform process.

In the latest IPQ analysis, Milan Nic of DGAP sketches out precisely what is and what is not on the EU enlargement agenda, examining the high stakes involved in this crucial period. Read the full piece to gain sharp insights into the future shape of Europe and the critical choices facing policymakers

Part of the broader Future Shape of Europe series, this analysis unpacks the complex web of candidate countries—ranging from the Balkan frontrunners to Eastern runners-up—and evaluates what is realistically achievable on the legislative and political horizon. It addresses the institutional adjustments, budgetary pressures, and diplomatic hurdles the bloc must confront head-on if integration is to succeed.

The piece also tackles the shifting internal dynamics among key member states, including subtle yet significant policy shifts in Berlin and potential roadblocks or deadlocks posed by regional politics. Navigating these diverging national interests will be vital to keeping the enlargement momentum alive amidst competing priorities.

You can find the article “A Narrow Window of Opportunity” authored by Milan Nic, a senior fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations’ (DGAP), published in Internationale Politik Quarterly here