The Balkans Approaching the EU

Index

The paper argues that, although it lost political relevance, the Europeanization of Western Balkans continues to offer results. While the so-called "enlargement fatigue" is generally overestimated, it has rather been bilateral controversies and domestic problems that obstructed the enlargement.

The analysis explores to what extent the Croatian adaptation to European norms and conducts is still in progress. It also points out contradictions and resistance expressed by significant components of society.

As the incoming government in Tirana strikes to push for a new course, Brussels has made it clear that further European integration necessitates dealing with long-standing problems of rule of law -public administration, corruption, judiciary independence, and abuse of public office.

The paper analyzes the advancements of Serbia towards deeper integration with the EU. The question of Kosovo could still compromise that process and the Brussels Agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, last year, did not produce lasting concrete results to define the status of Kosovo.

The paper analyses the situation in Kosovo one year after the Kosovo-Serbia Agreement on the normalisation of their relations. As the Agreement was reached, the European Commission formally recommended to EU Member States that EU accession negotiations with Serbia and negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo be opened.

The February 2014 protests in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) have highlighted a crisis which is more than social and economic. The paper summarizes the latest events in the BiH political scene in the context of the failing EU integration process, debating the different stances about renewed international engagement in the country.

Research Team