Unpacking the 2021 Enlargement Package
Unpacking the 2021 Enlargement Package

Author(s): Strahinja Subotić, Miloš Pavković
Subject(s): Governance, Government/Political systems, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Centar za evropske politike CEP
Keywords: 2021 Enlargement Package; EU enlargement; Western Balkans; accession process; European Union; candidate countries; EU reforms; enlargement policy; European integration;
Summary/Abstract: After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there were moderate expectations in 2021 in terms of the Western Balkans’ recovery and progression into the EU. Recognising that the pandemic created new challenges in the region all the while exacerbating the existing ones, European Policy Centre (CEP) organised an online discussion in order to unpack the 2021 Enlargement Package. The event was organised alongside the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) of the European Commission, and the Think for Europe Network (TEN) which gathers think tank representatives from all Western Balkan countries. In the first part, the acting Director-General, Maciej Popowski, presented the Package and emphasised the key results, while in the second, TEN members presented their views, comments, recommendations, and questions from the standpoint of their country. The aim of these discussions was to present to the public the key findings of the Commission’s annual reports, all the while highlighting to what extent these converge with the regional think tanks’ assessment of the situation on the ground.

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