European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at a doorstep ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit on 5 June 2026, said the Growth Plan for the region has already invested €675 million, with a further €540 million tranche on its way. She called for the enlargement process to become faster and more credible, stressing that merit-based progress does not have to be slow.
the Growth Plan and enlargement. The Growth Plan, she explained, operates on the principle that the EU opens sectors of the Single Market to candidate countries in exchange for reforms that ensure a level playing field, with investment accompanying those reforms. The €675 million disbursed so far and the upcoming €540 million tranche demonstrate the plan's functioning.
On enlargement, von der Leyen emphasised that the process must be merit-based but not slow. 'If the candidate country delivers on reforms, it has to move forward in closing and opening chapters and clusters on its path forward towards the European Union,' she said. She also called for greater visibility of the enlargement process, urging candidate countries to explain the benefits to their people and EU member states to do the same to their citizens. 'Enlargement means more security, more prosperity, and a bigger place of Europe in the world,' she added.
The speech contained concrete proposals in the form of numerical targets (€675 million and €540 million) and a clear policy orientation: accelerating enlargement while maintaining merit-based conditionality. Von der Leyen's tone was optimistic, noting 'momentum' that must be turned into 'movement' and ultimately 'membership.' The address did not specify new institutional structures or deadlines but reaffirmed existing commitments.
EU candidate countries in the Western Balkans stand to benefit from faster accession prospects and continued investment, though they must deliver reforms. EU member states may face pressure to communicate enlargement benefits domestically, potentially affecting public opinion. EU institutions, particularly the Commission, see their role in driving the enlargement agenda reinforced. Businesses in the region could gain from increased Single Market access and investment, but may face compliance costs from reforms.