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From Static Accession to Gradual Integration: What We Are Really Testing

Over the past days in Tirana, I found myself thinking quite a bit about how much the conversation on EU accession in our region is changing.
As part of the REPACT initiative, we organised the executive training “Regional Cooperation, Common Regional Market Implementation and Gradual Integration into the EU Single Market”. We had a really strong response to the call, and in the end, we brought together a group of professionals from across all Western Balkan countries, as well as Moldova.
What I appreciated most was not just the level of expertise in the room, but the openness of the discussions. It didn’t feel like a typical training. It felt like a space where people were genuinely exchanging what works, what doesn’t, where things get stuck. And honestly, I think we learned just as much from the participants as they did from the sessions.
One thing that kept coming up is the idea of “gradual integration” and the possibility to access EU-related benefits even before full membership. We talk about it a lot, but when you break it down, it’s actually quite simple: are our institutions ready to function as part of the EU Single Market, step by step? Regional cooperation, and especially the Common Regional Market, is becoming a very practical way to test this. But what also came out clearly is that the issue is no longer about strategies or frameworks, we have plenty of those. The real question is much more basic: can we implement, can we coordinate, and can we actually deliver on what has already been agreed?
One of the strongest takeaways for me was the level of interaction in the room. It wasn’t just participatio, it was a real exchange across countries and institutions, which, if sustained, can genuinely evolve into a network. Not something formal, but something practical and useful, and we will do our part to help make it sustainable beyond this programme. Because in the end, moving closer to the EU will depend less on what we agree on in principle, and more on whether we can turn those commitments into something that actually works in practice.

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Dr. Xhon Skënderi is a legal expert specialising in EU integration, rule of law and cross-border legal frameworks, with over a decade of experience in legal reform and EU acquis alignment. He holds a Doctor of Laws (Dr. iur.) from the University of Passau, Germany, with a focus on European Private International Law, comparative law and European legal systems. He has extensive experience advising public institutions and international organisations on the approximation, implementation and enforcement of EU legislation, including legislative drafting, compliance assessments and institutional coordination. His work spans EU-funded and regional assignments across the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters, regulatory alignment and evidence-based policy development. Dr. Skënderi is the author of numerous academic publications and policy studies in the fields of European law, cross-border dispute resolution and legal harmonisation, contributing to both scholarly debate and policy practice. Alongside his advisory work, he is an attorney and lecturer, combining academic excellence with practical legal expertise across civil and commercial law.
Ms. Donika Kamberi is a scholar of international law and global politics and currently serves as the Director of the Center for Peace and Transcultural Communication at the University of Tetova. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Politics and International Relations from the University of Macerata, Italy, and is pursuing a PhD in International Law at the South East European University. Her research focuses on peacebuilding, intercultural dialogue, international security, and the Western Balkans, with a strong emphasis on the EU’s role in regional stability and recent studies concerning the Russia–Ukraine war and the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law. Donika has published widely in international journals, participated in global conferences, and represents North Macedonia in international youth and leadership programs. She remains committed to advancing democratic values, conflict resolution, and meaningful cross-cultural cooperation. As Director of the Center since 2021, she has led initiatives promoting peace, dialogue, and cross-cultural understanding through research, conferences, and international cooperation. Kamberi has published widely in journals such as FREEDOM and JUSTICIA, contributed to translation projects, and participated in numerous international conferences and leadership programs, including the ACYPL Exchange Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. Her experience with NGOs and multicultural environments has strengthened her commitment to human rights and youth engagement, and she is recognized for her active involvement in academic, civic, and intercultural initiatives.
Dr. Enkeleida Tahiraj is an academic and consultant. She has taught Social Policy, Politics and Sociology at the University of Tirana; University of York; LSE, and UCL where she also directed a research program, was World Visiting Scholar at University of California San Diego and at Penn State University, USA, and Chevening Scholar at Sussex University, UK. She has presented at numerous academic conferences at Oxford, Harvard, UCL, LSE, Urbino-Italy, Petersburg State University-Russia, L-Università ta-Malta, and at policy impact events at FCO, ETF and Wilton Park.  Dr Tahiraj has advised international organizations including the European Commission, EUROFOUND, the UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and the World Bank, the EU Mutual Information System on Social Protection (MISSOC), evaluated scientific programs for the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology, was special Adviser to IDS on WB Growth and Poverty Reduction as well as for national governments reforms. Dr Tahiraj's fields of research are EU Accession and Policy Transfer, Social Inclusion and Democratic Consolidation, Human Rights, Social protection rights-based policies Children, Gender & Family Policies, Social Security, Labour Markets and Employment, CSOs, Universal Basic Income and Policy Innovations.
Dr. Majlinda Bregu, is a policy leader, academic, and former politician with over two decades of experience in European integration, regional cooperation, and governance reform across South-East Europe. She currently serves as a Commissioner of the Pan- European Commission on Climate and Health (WHO).  From 2019 to 2024, Ms. Bregu served as Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, where she led flagship regional initiatives such as the Common Regional Market, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and the SEE2030 Strategy – strengthening the region’s alignment with EU standards and advancing cooperation under the Berlin Process. Previously, she served as Minister of European Integration and Government Spokeswoman of Albania (2007–2013), and as a Member of the Albanian Parliament (2005–2017), where she chaired both the European Integration Committee and the National Council for European Integration. A sociologist by training, Ms. Bregu has lectured widely at international universities and authored numerous publications on EU integration, governance, gender equality, and social development. Her leadership and commitment to regional cooperation and European integration have been recognized with several distinctions, including the Prespa Dialogue Award (2023) and the European Western Balkans Award (2021).