Granting Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate status in 2022 was a significant step for these countries and the EU itself.

However, candidate status is just the first, symbolic step on the path to membership.

For example, the EU enlargement in the Western Balkans has been painfully slow. Only Croatia out of seven managed to join the EU in 2013. The enlargement itself has essentially stopped.

You can read more about lessons Ukraine can learn from the EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, in the article by the coordinator of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG), Florian Bieber, Expansion on Hold: Why Western Balkans Still Not in the EU and What Ukraine Should Consider.

Managing expectations is crucial when it comes to EU accession. If citizens lose hope of joining, the country won't transform on the path to the EU.

In the Western Balkans, opinions on EU accession are divided.

In Serbia, support has been decreasing over the past decade. Today, there is no longer a majority for joining the EU.

A similar, though not as sharp, decline has occurred in North Macedonia. Their main disappointment is over repeated blockades by EU member states, particularly in recent years by Bulgaria.

On the other hand, citizens of Albania and Kosovo remain the most pro-European in the region, with support consistently exceeding 80%.

Another crucial factor in the region is the level of expectation regarding the realism of EU membership. Combining skepticism and doubts about accession can be destructive to the dynamics of membership.

Conversely, excessive enthusiasm can also face challenges. Unrealistic expectations of swift accession can lead to disillusionment and demonstrate a lack of competence or understanding of the process, allowing political elites to manipulate the situation.

Nonetheless, EU candidates must continue to "knock on the door" and seek strength in numbers. The Western Balkan enlargement process did not foster friendly competition among candidates who could have collectively lobbied for enlargement and competed to be the first to complete reforms.

In Central Europe, cooperation was not always easy, but a sense of shared purpose was stronger, enabling countries to communicate their goal of EU membership together.

Ukraine, with its unique moral capital due to the war, should see itself as a team player and encourage others to pursue membership collectively.

Furthermore, a strong consensus on the EU is essential for the process to continue. In Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, all major parties supported EU accession, facilitating democratic change in power without jeopardising the accession process.

In the Western Balkans, the situation was more complicated.

The experience of Serbia and other Western Balkan countries demonstrates that a pro-European consensus is not just a formal commitment. It requires genuine dedication to the cause of EU integration.

While all sides could theoretically support EU expansion, it is crucial that they become sincere advocates of it, carrying out the necessary reforms to bring their countries closer to the EU, rather than merely defending the end goal.

As a result, in the Balkans, there have been isolated instances where two very pro-European parties can block each other not over the EU but due to mutual mistrust and antagonism.

To avoid this, broad social consensus and an active civil society that continues to pressure the parties to deliver results are necessary. These factors will compel parties to demonstrate progress.