EU Enlargement and Civil Society in the Western Balkans

AbstractFor the countries of the Western Balkans, the path to membership in the European Union (EU) has been particularly tortuous. Its slow progress has created frustration among applicant countries. In 2014 Germany, stepping into the political void that had formed, inaugurated what has come to be known as the Berlin Process, an initiative aimed at injecting new energy into the dormant EU enlargement process. The author examines the political activities initiated between 2014 and 2019, analysing the official documentation of the Berlin Process along with publications such as policy papers and media commentaries. She concludes that although meaningful and proactive measures have been taken, such efforts have not been successful in persuading or enabling the Western Balkan states to implement the political and economic reforms required for EU accession.

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Strengthening the historical ties between Serbia and Cyprus in view of 21st century challenges and opportunities in Europe: The elevated geostrategic position in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean, the common legacy of neutrality and future engagement

Napredak ◽

10.5937/napredak2-31932 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 7-18

Author(s):

Dimitrios Teofilaktu

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eu Enlargement ◽

Strategic Partnership ◽

British Colonialism ◽

Western Balkans ◽

National Interests ◽

European Continent ◽

The Balkans ◽

Challenges And Opportunities

The foundations of the strong historical ties between Serbia and Cyprus lie on common struggles, dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly during the two great wars. Their long struggles against various aggressors, like the Ottoman Turks, Nazi Germany and British colonialism, have left long-lasting wounds on their societies, but also a legacy of bravery, resilience, perseverance and national pride. The deep friendship is also premised on common cultural and Orthodox roots, which helped the two peoples overcome major challenges and preserve their national identity and cultural values. This analysis explores the challenges ahead and assesses the new strategic partnership, including the trilateral cooperation between Serbia-Greece-Cyprus, particularly in light of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans and the volatile situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The article also attempts to evaluate how the policy of neutrality, that both Yugoslavia and Cyprus have pursued as founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, would serve today the national interests of Serbia and Cyprus and, by extension, stability and security in their respective regions and the European continent at large, given their elevated geostrategic position.

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The Environmental Challenges of EU Enlargement

Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law ◽

10.1163/18760104-01101003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 49-68

Author(s):

Aleksandra Čavoški

Keyword(s):

Eu Enlargement ◽

Integration Process ◽

Western Balkans ◽

Policy Area ◽

Institutional Economic ◽

Eu Integration ◽

Weakest Link ◽

Accession Countries ◽

The Eu

Although the implementation of the acquis is a crucial element of the EU integration process, it is recognised as its ‘weakest link’. The implementation deficit is especially apparent with the EU environmental acquis, both in the existing member states and the accession countries. Most recently, following the accession of Croatia, the EU faces prospective enlargement to other Western Balkans countries. The author argues that there are specific problems in implementing the environmental acquis in accession countries and that the case of Serbia, or other countries of the Western Balkans, is not particularly unique. The case study used to support this argument is the implementation of the waste acquis in Serbia as it represents a highly demanding and costly policy area for national authorities and the country faces extensive legal, institutional, economic and financial challenges in implementing the environmental acquis.

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Civil Society and Transitions in the Western Balkans

10.1057/9781137296252 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Keyword(s):

Civil Society ◽

Western Balkans

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German Policy towards EU Enlargement

World Economy and International Relations ◽

10.20542/0131-2227-2015-4-18-22 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 18-22

Author(s):

F. Basov

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Eu Enlargement ◽

The European Union ◽

Western Balkans ◽

Eastern Partnership ◽

Western Balkan Region ◽

Balkan Region ◽

The Stability ◽

The Eu

This article is dedicated to the German policy towards the EU enlargement. Its history as well as the current German policy towards prospective enlargements are analyzed in this paper. The article offers party-political and sociological analysis of Germany`s attitude towards the EU enlargement, also the reasons for it are determined. FRG supported all of the European Community and European Union enlargements. This line is being continued, but nowadays only step to step approach is being supported. Germany‘s motives to the EU enlargement are based on the liberal concept of the common security. The main goals of this policy are the including of European countries into the Western community of developed countries (the EU), the extension of the stability and security area. The economic integration is also very important for Germany. The key priority of the EU enlargement is the Western Balkan region (the so called “Europeanisation” of Western Balkans). This process is being supported by political elites of the region and by the European Union itself. It is recognized, that the Europeanisation of Western Balkans was used as a sample for the Eastern Partnership Program. Without consideration of the Russian factor, though, this strategy towards the post-Soviet countries has many weaknesses. But the EU-membership for the Eastern Partnership members is not excluded.

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The Impact of covid-19 Measures on the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans and the Increase of Authoritarianism

European Journal of Comparative Law and Governance ◽

10.1163/22134514-bja10024 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-33

Author(s):

Andi Hoxhaj ◽

Fabian Zhilla

Keyword(s):

Civil Society ◽

Comparative Analysis ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Rule Of Law ◽

Western Balkans ◽

Checks And Balances ◽

The Rule Of Law ◽

State Capture ◽

The Impact ◽

The Eu

Abstract This article offers a comparative analysis of the covid-19 legal measures and model of governance adopted in the Western Balkans countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo) and its impact on the state of the rule of law, and ability of parliament and civil society to scrutinise government decisions. The article assesses the governments’ approaches to introducing and enforcing covid-19 legal measures, and shows examples of how covid-19 has exposed more openly the weaknesses in the existing system of checks and balances in the Western Balkans. The article offers new insights into how covid-19 presented a new opportunity for leaders in the Western Balkans to implement further their authoritarian model of governance in undermining the rule of law. This article offers suggestions on how the EU could respond, through its accession conditionality instruments and civil society, to redirect this trend towards more state capture.

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