Western Balkans

The European Union is preparing membership action plans for the most promising candidate countries, according to Politico. The plans would set out the reforms and steps candidates must complete on the path to joining the bloc. Enlargement is a live issue for the EU, with several countries in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe awaiting progress on their accession bids.

The question of whether the European Union can take in new members without deeper federal reform is being raised in commentary carried by Kyiv Post. With enlargement prospects touching Ukraine and the Western Balkans, debate is focusing on whether current EU institutions and decision-making can absorb new members or whether treaty change is needed first.