The Founding Fathers and the “Borders” of Europe: from Ukraine to the Western Balkans, what enlargement?

The issue of European borders is crucial for EU integration, which has progressively abandoned the geographic criterion in favor of common democratic values. The von der Leyen Commission has confirmed enlargement as a priority, entrusted to Slovenian Marta Kos. The focus is on the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, while for Turkey, dialogue remains open but without concrete expectations. The Russian invasion has accelerated the debate on Ukraine’s entry, but economic, institutional, and political obstacles make expansion uncertain. The EU will need to reform, adopting majority voting and strengthening security, especially towards the East, to face global challenges and reduce Moscow’s influence.