European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her annual State of the Union address on 10 September to deliver a clear message: the Western Balkans, alongside Ukraine and Moldova, belong in the European Union. “Their future is in our Union,” she said, stressing that integration must be merit-based but tangible.
She pointed to reforms, investments, and access to the Single Market as essential steps on the path to membership, urging both Brussels and candidate countries to turn promises into visible progress.
For the Adria region, this means accelerating judicial reforms, improving governance, and deepening economic alignment.
Von der Leyen’s message is a reminder that EU enlargement has regained political momentum. For businesses and citizens across the region, it offers not only long-term perspective but also near-term opportunities tied to investment and market integration.
