Europe’s Getting Bigger (Again), and This Time It’s Personal
The European Parliament just voted overwhelmingly to roll out the welcome mat for new members, and they’re not being shy about it. With 385 votes in favor, MEPs declared that EU enlargement isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s basically Europe’s security blanket in an increasingly chaotic world.
The message? Letting new countries join isn’t charity work; it’s self-preservation. According to Parliament, the cost of not expanding would actually be higher than absorbing new members. Think of it as buying insurance before your house floods, except the flood is “geopolitical grey zones vulnerable to antagonistic foreign influence.” (That’s Brussels-speak for “places where troublemakers can cause problems.”)
The Fast-Trackers
Montenegro and Albania are apparently the overachievers of the group, aiming to wrap up their accession negotiations by 2026 and 2027 respectively. Ukraine and Moldova are also knocking on the door, with MEPs pushing for swift progress. Even Iceland is getting a mention for increased EU enthusiasm, and Greenland is apparently flirting with the idea of stronger EU ties. (Yes, Greenland. No, we’re not sure what took them so long either.)
No Cutting in Line
But before anyone gets too excited, Parliament laid down some ground rules. This isn’t a participation trophy situation—countries need to actually earn their spot. The report emphasizes that accession must remain “merit-based and reversible,” which is diplomatic code for “we’re watching you, and we can change our minds.”
Rule of law, democracy, media freedom, minority rights, and fighting corruption are all non-negotiable. MEPs noted that countries showing the worst democratic backsliding are conveniently the same ones barely aligning with EU foreign policy. Coincidence? They think not.
The Fine Print
Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius summed it up nicely: enlargement has historically made Europe stronger and richer, but the EU itself needs to get its house in order first. That means internal reforms and—brace yourself—more qualified majority voting instead of letting single countries veto everything.
The Parliament is also calling for beefed-up monitoring of reforms, more support for pro-EU civil society groups, and adequate funding in the next EU budget. Because nothing says “welcome to the family” quite like proper infrastructure investment and countering foreign disinformation campaigns together.
The bottom line? Europe’s door is open, but you’d better be ready to prove you deserve to walk through it. And bring your A-game on democratic values—there’s a checklist, and yes, they’re actually going to use it.