Prime Minister António Costa meets with Moldova and North Macedonia and delivers keynote at the Euronews Enlargement Summit, underscoring Brussels’ geopolitical push
As Europe transitions into a new phase of its enlargement agenda, Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa is set to host a pivotal week of engagements that underscore the European Union’s renewed focus on its eastern and Balkan neighbourhood. Anchoring the spotlight on the upcoming days is a busy schedule that brings together meetings with the leaders of Moldova and North Macedonia, capped by a keynote address at the Euronews Enlargement Summit.
A strategic calendar
According to official documents from the European Council, Costa will commence the week with a meeting with President Maia Sandu of Moldova, followed by a bilateral with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of North Macedonia. Later in the day he will deliver a speech at the Euronews EU Enlargement Summit.
The demand behind the schedule is clear: to accelerate talk of enlargement beyond mere rhetoric and to signal to candidate states that the EU intends to act — or at least to engage visibly.
Moldova’s moment in the spotlight
For Moldova, the visit carries particular weight. The country is already in the accession queue and has waged a pro‑European course despite serious geopolitical headwinds. By meeting the President, Costa is signalling Brussels’ interest in keeping Moldova’s accession talk alive, and in embedding it in the EU’s broader eastern strategy.
The conversation is likely to revolve around reforms, alignment with EU norms and securing support in sectors such as the rule of law, transparency, and democratic governance. The optics of the meeting matter: a smaller state like Moldova needs affirmation that enlargement is not being deferred indefinitely.
North Macedonia: the Balkan test
North Macedonia has long been a candidate for membership of the EU, but it has encountered structural and political hurdles. By meeting the Prime Minister, Costa reinforces the notion that the Western Balkan track remains on the agenda.
At the summit, the statement from Costa — that “the accession paths of the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine are more than just promises; they are priorities” — underscores that rhetoric is shifting toward operationalisation.
Key themes in the North Macedonia exchange will no doubt include constitutional reforms, minority rights issues, and efforts to clear the backlog of accession steps that have stalled progress. The message: the EU expects concrete momentum.
The Euronews Enlargement Summit: a stage for commitment
The Euronews Enlargement Summit provides Costa a public platform to unify the narratives of three important regions – the association trio (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia) and the Western Balkans – and to signal the EU’s geopolitical intent.
In his keynote, Costa is expected to highlight:
- Enlargement as a geopolitical investment in European stability and peace.
- The need for the EU to internalise reforms to absorb new members while maintaining cohesion.
- A call to candidate states that meeting accession criteria is both a matter of political will and institutional preparedness.
This is not a symbolic gesture only; Costa’s speech will be framed as part of a trajectory toward actual enlargement, rather than endless pre‑accession limbo.
Portugal’s stake and the EU dimension
Portugal, as a member of the EU and under the leadership of Costa, is positioning itself as a champion of the enlargement process. Lisbon’s approach may carry additional weight given Portugal’s recent prominence in EU institutions and its reputation as a reliable partner.
By hosting and facilitating these meetings, Portugal signals that enlargement is not merely for the Commission and Brussels technocrats, but embedded in high‑level diplomacy and national leadership. The week ahead thus has a dual significance: for the candidate states and for the EU itself, as it seeks unity of purpose.
Challenges ahead
Nonetheless, the path remains fraught. Enlargement fatigue among some member states, complex internal reforms in candidate countries, and geopolitical tensions (particularly the shadow of Russia and regional instability) all pose obstacles. Analysts highlight risks such as the so‑called “brain drain” from newer members which could undermine the attractiveness of enlargement.
Costa’s engagements this week do more than just signal intent—they bring face‑to‑face diplomacy into the enlargement narrative. But for real progress, follow‑through in terms of negotiation steps, Council decisions and candidate‑state reforms will be essential.
Looking ahead: what to watch
- Whether the EU issues any concrete roadmap or timeline during or after the summit.
- Signals from Moldova and North Macedonia about how they will respond to Costa’s calls for reform and alignment.
- The tone of Costa’s keynote: whether it remains rhetorical or includes actionable commitments.
- Reaction from other EU capitals: whether they endorse or push back on an accelerated enlargement agenda.
If this week’s schedule is a bellwether, then the enlargement file may be entering a more active phase—one where diplomacy, public signals and diplomatic optics converge to renew momentum. The coming days could thus mark the transition from promise to process.
The Tower Post 