Riding the Wave? The Impact of the Russian Invasion on EU Enlargement to the Western Balkans: Insights from Parliamentary Questions in the European Parliament

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has seemingly created a new window of opportunity for (pre-) accession candidates of the Western Balkan countries, reigniting the EU’s interest in enlargement. While existing literature scrutinises the roles of the European Commission, the Council and the European Council, this study shifts its focus to an often overlooked yet crucial institution, - the European Parliament. By adopting a micro-level perspective, we investigate how the Russian invasion has reshaped the key actors driving the debate on EU enlargement to the Western Balkans during the 9th parliamentary term, focusing on MEP’s written parliamentary questions. The findings indicate a shift away from the predominance of the far-right Identity and Democracy Group, an increased involvement from non-specialized MEPs and those from outside the immediate region. Surprisingly, there is no evidence that the Russian invasion significantly altered the level of attention nor the dominant themes of the discussion, which continue to focus on international affairs and ethnic minority discrimination.