Мястото на политиката за разширяване в председателството на Съвета на Европейския съюз: България, Австрия, Румъния
The Enlargement Policy and the Presidency of the Council of the EU: Bulgaria, Austria, Romania

Author(s): Lilia Markova
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Public Administration, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: European Union; Western Balkans; Presidency; Enlargement Policy; Criteria; Disputes; Democratization; Accession
Summary/Abstract: The European Union needs stability, security and prosperity in the Western Balkans. The European perspective and Connectivity of the Western Balkans is one of the main priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the European Council, because providing a tangible European perspective for the countries of the region, including dialogue based on the fulfillment of the conditions, the political will and decisive reforms on the part of these countries, is crucial not only for the region but for the EU as a whole. The Western Balkan countries must act decisively. Accession is, and always will be, a merit-based process, wholly dependent on the objective (achieved by certain criteria) progress on each side. Although none of these countries meets these criteria today, the region has come a long way since the late 1990s. Significant progress has been made both in reforms and in overcoming the legacy of the wars. There are still unresolved bilateral disputes between countries in the region that the EU will not accept to be imported in the Community. Last but not least, accession to the EU is a choice that depends on the authorities of the candidate countries and the support of their citizens.

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