The German Presidency of the Council of the EU takes place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the EU, along with the rest of the world, needs quick and bold action to adapt to the resulting tectonic changes. These circumstances have pushed Germany to lead the Union across the Rubicon in regard to the future of the European project.

Croatia takes over the Council Presidency from Finland at a turbulent time for enlargement policy, especially after the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia was postponed yet again. While such a move caused shockwaves among the expert community, it also had a snowball effect of putting enlargement back on the agenda of EU leaders.

While the Council of the EU has been headed by the countries from the Western Balkan’s neighbourhood (Austria, Bulgaria, and Romania) in the last 18 months, the time has come for Finland – a country geographically distant from the region – to take over.

On 1 January 2019, Romania started presiding over the Council of the EU, for the first time since joining the Union. It took up the baton from Austria, a country whose priorities mainly revolved around strengthening the EU’s security, tackling the migration issue, and supporting the Western Balkan’s EU perspective. What about Romania’s priorities?

The overall aim of this Insight is to encourage further discussions on what lies ahead for the Balkans in the post-Brexit Europe

All across the EU, it has become quite common to label the modus operandi of the EU as ineffective, its institutional set-up as undemocratic and its politics as far removed from European citizens. 

While Bulgaria has recognised providing a clear European perspective for the WB countries as its first priority, Estonia has rather kept its centre of interest and activities on the Digital Single Market, while omitting enlargement from its top priorities; as for Austria, it is expected that it will direct its attention mostly on the issues of immigration and security, while simultaneously aiding the EU perspective of the region.

Juncker’s speech represents the first occasion when an EU representative mentioned even a possible date for EU’s future enlargement.

A touch of optimism has returned to Brussels.

From July 1, 2017, to January 1, 2018, Estonia will hold the Presidency of Council of the EU.