I completed an event last week in Dublin, in which I brought civil society from the western Balkans to discuss all these proposals. Dublin is at the epicentre because it's taking the presidency of the EU for the second half of the year.
There is certainly a welcome reaction to the non-paper. It's very smart and pragmatic. This is not putting the western Balkans in the reserve room or in a second-tier membership. It is offering a gradual, phased integration that will expedite and perhaps encourage democratic reforms, retain democratic orientation and push back against some of these authoritarian tendencies. Certainly, it's a welcome development.
In particular, Montenegro's experience will set the pace for how the other countries will proceed. They're currently drafting the accession treaty, which will define any reservations when it comes to the veto rights. How the Montenegro accession will look could be a model for Albania and the rest. It's certainly a welcome development.
There have been some concerns raised, for example, in North Macedonia. If they fall behind, will they experience a return to ethnic tensions or discouragement of reforms?
Overall, it's a positive outlook and reception.