Enlargement in Times of Crises: the EU Prospects of the Western Balkans
Enlargement in Times of Crises: the EU Prospects of the Western Balkans

Author(s): Aleko Stoyanov
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Geopolitics
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: enlargement; crises; Western Balkans; EU integration
Summary/Abstract: It is often said that the EU has evoleved through crises and the overcoming of each crisis has made it stronger. Yet, the current situation is a bit more different as the EU is facing not one but several crises simultaneously – euro crisis, (dis)integration crisis, the Ukraine crisis, a migrant crisis and even a transatlantic crisis. Against this backdrop it is no wonder that it tookBrussels 15 years to reconfirm in another declaration its commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans. On the other hand, the Western Balkan countries could have done more to convince the EU in the firmness of their European aspirations. Yet, despite the mutual accusationsof lack of interest, the Western Balkans has moved closer to the EU. In 2013 Croatia became the 28 member state while Montenegro and Serbia are holding accession negotiations. The Bulgarian EU Presidency improved the EU prospects of Macedonia and Albania as both countries now hopeto start negotiations in 2019. At the same time, the upcoming European elections, the influence of third parties in the region as well as the internal divisions among the EU member states and within the aspiring EU candidates may pose a real challenge to the long-dreamed European unification.

• Details
• Contents