EU membership support needs better communication both inside and outside the bloc to avoid losing momentum for enlargement.
🔗 Read the article on balcanicaucaso.org
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
Surveys indicate that improving communication about the benefits of EU enlargement, both inside and outside the Union, is necessary to maintain support. Analysis of Eurobarometer and Balkan Barometer data shows varied support levels across Western Balkans countries, with general disillusion despite relative stability in regional support. Support for enlargement among EU members has historically not been strong. The war in Ukraine appears to have positively influenced public perception, framing EU expansion as a means of strengthening the Union against security risks. To improve public discourse, efforts are needed to translate high-level political messages into understandable terms for citizens, especially in rural areas. Strengthening communication through cultural diplomacy and engaging youth are suggested approaches. For EU member states, a broader, coherent internal debate on enlargement is required, with each capital taking responsibility for local communication strategies. The article concludes that the geopolitical cost of leaving candidate countries in limbo is too high for the EU, and decisive action is needed to maintain the Union’s credibility.
