At a recent conference in Tallinn regarding EU expansion, European Commissioner for Expansion, Marta Kos, addressed the increasing challenges facing the EU's enlargement process. Historically viewed as a lengthy and technical undertaking, the expansion has now come under scrutiny due to the war in Ukraine and changing geopolitical dynamics. This shift prompts a reassessment of the EU's ability to navigate its own rules and disputes while addressing urgent global issues.

Kos emphasized that the EU currently has nine candidate countries, some waiting for decades for their applications to be processed. The historical neglection of enlargement as a priority for past European Commissions has resulted in a situation where expansion cannot be delayed any longer, especially given the pressing wars and geopolitical shifts across Europe. This urgency marks a significant turning point in the EU's approach to membership and expansion, reflecting the real-world implications of ongoing conflicts.

The discussions at the Tallinn conference suggest that the EU is at a crucial crossroads where it must balance internal regulations with external pressures, and this is likely to change the future landscape of the union. Stakeholders are now compelled to consider the viability of rapid enlargement, the readiness of candidate nations, and the EU's collective response to emerging crises—questions that resonate well beyond Brussels and into the heart of European stability and unity.