The article examines the problematic EU expansion policy which has been contradictory and damaging to both the Union and candidate countries. It argues that European nations should not leave the Balkan region vulnerable to influence from Russia and China while the EU continues to delay membership prospects for these countries. While the EU treaty stipulates that any European country can join the union, many have been waiting for two decades to enter, revealing a failure in the methodology of admitting new members.

As the barriers to EU membership appear insurmountable for many candidates over an entire generation, the EU risks becoming less attractive as a prospective political union. This situation is exacerbated by the increasing presence of Russia and China in the Balkans, where these powers have been able to exploit the vacuum created by the EU's hesitance. By failing to facilitate integration among Balkan nations and Ukraine, the EU not only undermines its own ideals of unity but also endangers its geopolitical influence and stability across the continent.

The article calls for a reassessment of the EU's approach to expansion, suggesting that partial membership in certain areas could be a viable solution to integrate these candidates more effectively. It emphasizes the need for the EU to act decisively in its expansion efforts in order to secure its relevance and counter the geopolitical implications of ceding ground to external powers like Russia and China.