Geopolitical Aspects of the EU Enlargement Process: Macedonian and Ukrainian Case
Keywords:
European enlargement, N. Macedonia, Ukraine, geopolitics, intergovernmentalism, realism
Abstract
This paper compares the integration processes of North Macedonia and Ukraine, which have recently opened EU accession negotiations. The significant disparity in the pace of their integration processes - remarkably slow in the case of North Macedonia and exceptionally fast in the case of Ukraine - serves to examine whether EU enlargement decisions are shaped more by the institutional criteria or by geopolitical interests of member states. Using a comparative approach, the study analyzes the European policies and relations with both countries and the EU role in addressing their internal and external disputes. The study aims to demonstrate how EU enlargement is shaped by EU standards and geopolitical interests, interpreting the findings through intergovernmental and realist perspectives that emphasize state-driven decision-making and security imperatives. The results reveal that North Macedonia’s accession was delayed due to non-criteria political disputes, while Ukraine’s accession process was accelerated for security reasons, demonstrating how geopolitical considerations can outweigh normative standards in EU enlargement.
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References
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18. Prodi, R. (2013, September 24). Ukraine is important to Europe as a source of economic growth and energy security, as well as a bridge to Russia. (Interview) https://www.romanoprodi.it/articoli/ukraine-is-important-to-europe-as-a-source-of-economic-growth-and-energy-security-as-well-as-a-bridge-to-russia_7238.html
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Published
2025-10-25
How to Cite
Galeva, J. (2025). Geopolitical Aspects of the EU Enlargement Process: Macedonian and Ukrainian Case. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 21(43), 33. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2025.v21n43p33
Section
Special Editions
Copyright (c) 2025 Jordanka Galeva
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
