European Voices in the Western Balkans: A Liberal Perspective on Enlargement of the European Union
European Voices in the Western Balkans: A Liberal Perspective on Enlargement of the European Union

Author(s): Natan Albahari, Martin Apostolski, Damir Arnaut, Ivan Dragojević, Sanela Klarić, Aris Movsesijan
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Political behavior, Comparative politics, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Fondacija Boris Divković
Keywords: Western Balkans; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Serbia; Liberal voices; EU;
Summary/Abstract: A simple glance at a map of Europe is enough to see why a joint European future for all European countries is inevitable and that it would be a logical interest of the European Union do spread its borders across the Western Balkans and further strengthen its position in the region. Still, keeping talks of enlargement alive is getting more and more difficult every year. Even before the pandemic, the opinion that it is necessary to reform the accession criteria before any new enlargement talks should begin has emerged, which has temporarily suspended candidacy talks with Albania and North Macedonia at one point, and almost caused serious backsliding in the latter Western Balkan country. Although the European Union is still mostly engaged in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, preparing itself for the post-pandemic crises, and trying to make internal reforms in order to tackle existing and possible future problems in member states, talks on enlargement should not halt. And the two priorities – the one on the internal and the one on external strengthening of the European Union – must not be considered mutually exclusive, because they both benefit the geopolitical position of Europe.

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