No new flags over Brussels since Croatia joined in 2013—Brexit stung, but now geopolitics flips the script. Western Balkans like Montenegro near the gate, while Ukraine and Moldova whispers grow louder in this volatile era.
Director-General Gert Jan Koopman, Commission enlargement czar, unpacks the shift: Russia's war and global realignments make enlargement a security imperative, not just idealism. But it's no free lunch—reforms, rule-of-law, and economic alignment are non-negotiable gatekeepers.
Peterson Institute spotlight reveals the chessboard: when, who, and how? Montenegro leads, but enlargement demands EU stomach for dilution of power and budget strains. New context means accelerated tracks, yet pitfalls loom.
For a union facing EPRS-predicted pressures—geopolitics, tech shifts, green pain—enlargement could supercharge society and clout. Or backfire into paralysis. Koopman's calculus: bold moves now, or risk encirclement.
