Explainers

Albania applied for EU membership in April 2009 and was granted EU candidate status in June 2014. The EU held its first intergovernmental conference with Albania in July 2022. So far, all 33 negotiation chapters have been opened and four have been provisionally closed.

Montenegro applied for EU membership in December 2008 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2010. The EU-Montenegro accession negotiations started in June 2012. So far, all 33 negotiation chapters have been opened and 21 have been provisionally closed.

The EU provides strong political, technical and financial support to help Western Balkans partners to progress on their European path.

Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in February 2016 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2022. Once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved, Bosnia and Herzegovina can start accession negotiations.

North Macedonia applied for EU membership in March 2004 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2005. The EU held its first intergovernmental conference with North Macedonia in July 2022.

Serbia applied for EU membership in December 2009 and was granted EU candidate status in March 2012. The EU-Serbia accession negotiations began in January 2014. So far, 22 chapters have been opened.

The Western Balkans is of strategic importance to the EU and the EU is the regions' largest investor, trading partner and donor.