Monday, 17 August 2026Europe · Analysis
Independent · Brussels & Berlin
Person
Enlargement Commissioner, European Commission
Brussels drafts incentives after Belgrade scales back contested judicial laws, but the Serbian president's surprise resignation announcement complicates the timing of any new cluster opening.
Brussels has opened the first accession treaty working group in 17 years for Montenegro, but disagreement over veto rights, staged integration and institutional reform threatens to stall wider enlargement.
Reykjavik considers moving a planned 2027 vote to August as Trump tariffs and Greenland ambitions reshape security calculations for the North Atlantic island.
EU foreign policy chief names Montenegro and Albania as frontrunners while warning of democratic backsliding in Georgia and Serbia; Hungarian veto blocks Ukraine and Moldova talks
After 18 days crossing eight countries, student protesters arrive at EU institutions as European Parliament hardens stance on Serbia's democratic backsliding and €111 million in aid is frozen.
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