From EU enlargement fatigue to ambiguity

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 and the ensuing lockdowns are having unprecedented human, social and economic impacts. The pandemic’s implications will undoubtedly be devastating for the whole world, including for the EU member states and their Balkan neighbours. The global economy has been suffering a symmetrical shock, with a simultaneous decline of supply and demand, hence its effects will be stronger than even those of the financial and economic crisis of 2008-2009. In this context, the fight against the virus and the subsequent economic and social crises are most likely to remain such a high priority on the EU agenda for years to come that little space will be left for any other items, including the European Union’s enlargement process. This means that, once again, as it happened for the Juncker Commission, no enlargement will take place under the current term, questioning whether, what once was the EU’s most successful foreign policy – enlargement – has not become obsolete.