The European Union and the Balkans. From Stabilisation Process to Southeastern Enlargement
The European Union and the Balkans. From Stabilisation Process to Southeastern Enlargement

Author(s): Wim van Meurs, Alexandros Yannis
Subject(s): EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: CEEOL Digital Reproductions / Collections
Keywords: EU Enlargement to South-East; Thessaloniki promis;
Summary/Abstract: PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2002 BY THE CENTER FOR APPLIED POLICY RESEARCH at MUNICH UNIVERSITY. Adopting an Agenda for Southeastern enlargement would signify the progressive and balanced shift of the position of the international community and the local leadership: from stabilisation to enlargement; from international micro-management of the region to macro-management with greater local responsibilities; and from an international institutional proliferation to an integral institutional framework. The development of a flexible and informal common roof under which all current strategic objectives, actors and initiatives would be re-arranged to create dynamic synergies would be the acknowledgement of this paradigm shift. The above strategic complementarity and institutional congruence of the Southeastern enlargement process has to be consolidated in the next 2-3 years with the 2004/2005 Eastern enlargement as a deadline. // In conclusion, what may have worked reasonably well in Eastern enlargement process requires additional endeavours in the case of Southeastern enlargement due to the qualitatively and quantitatively different challenges this region poses. A consistent Agenda for Southeastern Enlargement after 2004, including the establishment of an Informal Consultation Council to provide the much-needed strategic and institutional coherence and orientation under EU leadership as well as an enhanced Stabilisation and Association Process will be needed soon, in order to secure a credible Balkan trajectory to Europe.

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