The Georgian and Serbian leaders’ pivots away from the path to EU accession show the bloc’s waning appeal. To keep EU enlargement on track, Brussels should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership.

Kosovo continues to face significant obstacles on its path to EU membership. To move forward, Prishtina must revive its dialogue with Belgrade, while the union should provide a clear road map for easing its punitive measures against the country.

The EU’s recent deregulatory shift risks eroding democratic oversight and the union’s norm-setting credibility. To secure Europe’s technological sovereignty, the bloc must increase investments, develop its own digital infrastructure, and regulate dual-use AI applications.