It should work out, more or less.
The Balkan is either already in or on track to join the EU.
The distinctions between ‘candidate’, ‘applicant’ and ‘potential candidate’ are… subtle and somewhat open for interpretation.
The current thinking is that Serbia and Montenegro are front-runner candidates and will have joined by 2025, and the other Balkan countries within five years or so after that. Kosovo will be a bit tricky as it is not recognized (yet?) by all members of the EU. Which may result in something like ‘not-officially-but-de-facto-a-full-member’ status.
The yellow bits which are not Ukraine are Moldova and Georgia, BTW.
Negotiations with Turkey are frozen. Everybody is invited to guess when they will be thawed out. A lot hinges on how long Erdoğan lasts, and who will replace him.
Iceland lodged its application in 2008, but froze accession negotiations in 2013, not expected to be resumed anytime soon. Public opinion is solidly against it.
Norway and Switzerland may or may not consider having another go at joining the EU. My guess is that Norway might try again when there is no point in arguing about fish anymore.
I expect the UK to re-join shortly after the successful revolution against the one-party Tory-state.
ETA:
Connections
ETA 2:
Internal structures
Turns out the faceless Eurocrats are elected by the EU citizens by proxy. Like, say the UK’s PM. Who knew? And yes, I’m still severely vexed by Brexit.
