Historic moment for Ukraine - dark for the Balkans. Such tones in influential European media summed up the results of another EU summit, from which the irritated and frustrated leaders of the candidate countries in the Western Balkans again left with the bitter realization that they were not invited to feel the warmth even in the hall of the common European home. . The wait continues in the waiting room behind the gates of the EU.

"An incredibly important signal." This is how European leaders assessed the historic decision to grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status for EU membership. But at the same time, hopes are expressed that the long-standing Western Balkan candidates "students" will join such a mood, realizing the great importance of the historic moment.

We should not turn a blind eye to the war in Ukraine, which has accelerated the EU enlargement process. Of course, European support for Ukraine needs to be clearly demonstrated. Nobody disputes that in particular. But the issue of double standards remains clumsily on the carpet. Both Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of Europe, have been hit by war and to this day are unable to obtain candidate status. The criteria for sizing the "fast lane" on the road to the EU are clearly not the same for everyone.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson expressed confidence that there is an understanding between the countries of the Western Balkans about the "incredibly important signal" and the great importance of the decision on Ukraine and Moldova. Understanding probably exists. To some extent. But if there are different speeds of integration within the EU, where for some the race track is constantly lengthening, while for someone it is allowed to start the race halfway, then "understanding" becomes a debatable issue.

EU leaders practically applauded themselves when they announced the unanimous decision to approve the candidate status of Ukraine and Moldova. It is in fact a historic milestone, as for a very long time in the EU they could not even agree to mention the word "membership" in relations with the former Soviet republics.

But Russia's war against Ukraine has reminded EU member governments that they risk losing influence in the Balkans, opening the way for initiatives by Russia, China and Turkey because 2003 promises of a European perspective and membership of the EU have not been fulfilled. countries in the Western Balkans.

That is why EU leaders from many countries have intensified tours of Balkan capitals, trying to revive years of neglect of the region's European perspective, looking for ways to overcome and resolve conflicts and blockades that have hampered even small steps in approaching the EU. Most EU visits took place in Sofia, but only a desperate attempt to persuade Bulgaria to lift its veto against the start of Macedonia's EU membership talks. Apart from a desperate attempt, following the example of the French proposal, and a convenient repetition of the discussion in Brussels on the need for the EU to lift member states' veto on foreign policy issues, nothing bolder and "more dramatic" could be heard on the European sidelines.

The "enlargement fatigue" seems to have remained hidden and hidden in the nests in Brussels for some time, had it not been for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One of President Putin's motives for invading Ukraine was to halt NATO enlargement. However, the result showed the opposite, given the request of Finland and Sweden to join the Alliance, although it is currently unclear when that could happen.

Another important effect on geopolitical development, which also does not correspond to Putin's ambitions, is the fact that the EU has managed to unite and impose sanctions on Russia. And besides, the EU is now on track to grow, opening its arms to the former Soviet republics. France is one of the countries that has long been skeptical about expanding east. This was very clear when it was the turn of Macedonia and Albania to start negotiations. But when President Macron and Chancellor Scholz boarded a train to Kyiv, welcoming Ukraine into the EU, a turning point occurred. A number of EU members subsequently supported such a commitment.

In recent years, many things have happened that influence the views and discussions about EU enlargement. Eastern European member states have been branded as black sheep that do not meet the criteria and requirements for a functioning democracy, rule of law and market economy. Expectations of accelerated democratization and substantial reforms in Eastern European countries have not materialized. According to some analyzes, one of the reasons that significantly contributed to the British leaving the EU, is the EU enlargement to the East.

When it comes to Ukraine, in which the breakaway republics and the invasion of Russian troops took place, different tones are heard. Criticism of the neglected reforms and disregard for European values ​​in Eastern European EU members has subsided since the start of the Russian invasion.

But while EU leaders have been reluctant to recall their two-decade-old promise of membership for the Western Balkans, the Putin regime has been entrenched in influential parties in several countries, deepening the government crisis in Bulgaria. The effect was that the EU summit on the Western Balkans ended in a fiasco. And not only that. Putin's long arm does not only reach Sofia, but even Brussels.