The future of Europe’s borders is once again a subject of both hope and tension, as EU leaders clashed over how far and how fast the bloc should expand. At the Euronews Enlargement Summit held in Brussels this week, discussions about Ukraine’s accession dominated - revealing optimism for integration but also growing fatigue inside the European Union’s own ranks.

With the war in Ukraine now in its fourth year, and reconstruction already underway, the question of EU membership has become not just a policy issue, but a symbol of political legitimacy for Kyiv.

“Ukraine is not asking for charity, but for recognition,” said Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. “We have earned our place through blood and reform.”

Optimism Meets Bureaucratic Reality

The summit’s tone oscillated between solidarity and skepticism. Eastern European countries — particularly Poland, the Baltic states, and Romania — pushed for faster enlargement to counter Russian influence.

But Western capitals, led by France and the Netherlands, urged caution, warning that rapid expansion without internal reform could destabilize an already overstretched Union.

“We must be ambitious, but not naïve,” said French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné. “Europe’s credibility depends on capacity, not promises.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the sentiment, reaffirming that Ukraine’s progress on judicial independence, anti-corruption reforms, and media freedom remains the key benchmark for entry.

Behind closed doors, however, EU diplomats admitted that domestic politics — rising populism, cost-of-living concerns, and migration debates — are complicating consensus across the bloc.

Ukraine’s Case for Membership

Since being granted EU candidate status in 2022, Ukraine has made visible strides: digitizing public services, curbing oligarchic influence, and aligning its energy and trade standards with EU norms.

Still, the accession roadmap remains long. Kyiv has completed roughly 65% of the legal and institutional reforms required under EU law, according to internal Commission assessments leaked last month.

“Enlargement fatigue is real,” said Piotr Buras of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “But fatigue cannot be an excuse for paralysis. If Ukraine stalls, Europe weakens.”

Kyiv’s leadership, meanwhile, continues to frame EU integration as a security guarantee, not merely an economic one — arguing that membership would fortify Europe’s eastern flank against future Russian aggression.

The Western Balkans Factor

Another point of contention is the queue itself. Leaders from North Macedonia, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina voiced frustration that the spotlight on Ukraine has left long-standing candidates waiting in limbo.

“We’ve met criteria that others haven’t even started,” said Edi Rama, Albania’s Prime Minister. “If Europe wants credibility, it must prove that promises mean something.”

EU officials privately acknowledge that the Western Balkans enlargement process has been politically frozen for years, slowed by vetoes and national disputes. But they insist Ukraine’s unique situation — a war-torn democracy at Europe’s frontier — justifies special consideration.

Strategic Imperatives

For Brussels, enlargement is no longer just about economics or governance — it’s about geostrategy. The EU’s expansion eastward could redefine its relationship with NATO, reshape energy security, and realign trade flows away from Russia and China.

“This is a once-in-a-generation moment,” said Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief. “Ukraine’s path to Europe is Europe’s test of will.”

But skepticism remains high among voters. A recent Eurobarometer survey found that only 47% of EU citizens support further enlargement — down eight points from 2023 — with concerns over economic burden and migration leading the pushback.

The Takeaway

The debate over enlargement captures Europe’s core paradox: a continent that aspires to unity but fears its limits. For Ukraine, the message from Brussels is clear — the door is open, but the hallway is long.

Hope may be alive in Kyiv, but frustration is simmering in Europe’s corridors of power. The coming months will test whether idealism or pragmatism defines the EU’s next chapter.