Albania and Montenegro are the most likely next EU members, Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, said in an interview with Euronews.

Costa’s remarks come amid growing concerns in Brussels over geopolitical competition in the Western Balkans, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That conflict has accelerated accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, sparking fears that Western Balkan states could be sidelined.

Costa launched a regional tour in Serbia, and will also visit Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo, followed by North Macedonia and concluding in Albania, where he will attend the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Tirana.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sped up the accession process for Ukraine and Moldova, so it is not fair to the countries of the Western Balkans to be overtaken,” Costa told Euronews. “This will push them to move faster with reforms.”

Serbia, a central player in the region, remains a particular concern. The presence of Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic at Russia’s May 9 Victory Day commemorations in Moscow - alongside Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico - broke with an EU-wide boycott and highlighted the country’s ambiguous foreign policy. Serbia has also refused to join EU sanctions against Russia, citing historical ties dating back to Soviet liberation in 1945.

However, Costa downplayed the symbolism of Vucic’s Moscow visit.

“On May 9 in Moscow, we celebrated an event of the past. Serbia’s future lies in Europe,” he said.

Despite past estimates targeting 2030 for new accessions, Costa refused to set a definitive date.

“I do not have a fixed date. Why 2030? And why not before? Accession is a process based on merit,” he said.

“If the countries carry out the reforms, they could even join before 2030. Albania and Montenegro are clearly more advanced than the other countries.”

Despite this, many citizens in the region, particularly in Serbia, have grown sceptical of the EU’s intentions, frustrated by years of stalled accession talks. Costa acknowledged this erosion of trust, but reiterated the Union’s founding vision.

“The most important thing is to understand the meaning of the European Union,” he said. “What really built the EU was the will to overcome the wounds of history.”