Changes to EU Enlargement Policy
Changes to EU Enlargement Policy

Author(s): Melchior Szczepanik
Subject(s): Governance, International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, EU-Legislation
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: European Union; enlargement policy; accession negotiations; reforms; sanctioning lack of progress; Western Balkans;
Summary/Abstract: The reform of the methodology of accession negotiations proposed by the European Commission (EC) does not spell out significant changes. However, it will probably lead to France lifting its veto on starting talks with Albania and North Macedonia. Making rewards more dependent on the assessment of reforms, as well as sanctioning lack of progress more strictly, will have a mobilising effect on the candidate countries. But, rather than changes in negotiations methodology, the future of enlargement will be determined by the will of political elites in the Western Balkans to democratise their states.

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