Sebastian Schäffer for radio moldova about Member-State Readiness Gap in EU Enlargement

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IDM Director Warns of Member-State Readiness Gap in EU Enlargement 

Speaking at a regional civil society gathering in Chișinău, IDM Director Sebastian Schäffer flagged a structural risk in the enlargement process: candidate countries may achieve technical readiness before key EU member states are politically prepared to welcome them. Representatives from 11 regional NGOs met to address enlargement fatigue. Montenegro’s progress — having provisionally closed half of all negotiating chapters — was cited as the leading regional benchmark, alongside the formal opening of Moldova’s first negotiation cluster on rule of law and democratic institutions on 15 June 2026. 

Montenegro leads as Moldova opens first EU negotiation cluster