Since Russia’s
full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, further enlargement is again a
‘hot topic’ on the political agenda of the European Union. The accession
prospect for countries from the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe is
considered a necessary geopolitical investment in stability and security on the
European continent. At the same time, the question arises as to when the
candidate countries will meet the requirements for membership. Taking into
account the demanding pre-accession conditionality, the concept of ‘gradual
integration’ is increasingly put forward as the main policy response to this
challenge. This article unpacks the background and meaning of ‘gradual
integration’ as a mechanism of the EU’s revised enlargement methodology. In
essence, it is argued that the focus on gradual integration of candidate
countries is less innovative as it seems at first glance. Proceeding from the
lessons of previous enlargement rounds, various legal pathways to the gradual
integration of candidate countries can be identified.