The Balkans’ slow path to European Union membership.
EU and Balkan leaders with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.[1]
On September 13th, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, gave her State of the Union address announcing her support for adding new member states to the European Union (“EU”).[2] Many Western Balkan states have been working toward EU membership since the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, during which the EU first pledged to assist the Western Balkans in achieving EU membership.[3] Other countries saw Croatia’s membership as a hopeful sign that the EU would promptly begin processing the membership applications of the remaining nations and assisting with their economic and political recovery from the Yugoslav Wars; however, there appears to be a disconnect between the EU and the Balkans.[4] In her address, von der Leyen remarked that “the future of the Western Balkans” is in the EU, but Balkan leaders remain skeptical of von der Leyen’s commitment. [5]
The EU's hesitancy to admit the Balkans primarily hinges on their lack of commitment to democracy.[6] Serbia has slowly made progress toward democracy but maintains close ties with Russia.[7] While Serbia condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they resisted pressure to impose sanctions.[8] Serbia refused to discontinue Air Serbia flights to Moscow or cut off natural gas imports– a goal outlined by the European Commission.[9] Long-standing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia also continue to pose a barrier for both countries.[10] The EU mediated conversations between Kosovo and Serbia to normalize relations between the countries, however, years of mediation resulted in both countries calling off the agreement on October 26, 2023.[11]
Other Western Balkan countries have made breakthroughs in meeting the EU’s standards.[12] For example, North Macedonia changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia to resolve a dispute with EU member Greece.[13] Albania started to overhaul its judicial system in 2015.[14] The project aimed to vet over 800 judicial staff, decrease corruption, and increase prosecution rates.[15] Albania dismissed 64% of its judges by September 2022.[16] The country also organized the Special Court on Corruption and Organized Crime, and most notably charged former Prime Minister Sali Berisha with corruption and money laundering.[17]
Balkan leaders, specifically Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, expressed mounting frustration when Ukraine was placed on a fast track to EU membership, following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.[18] The first step toward membership is to receive candidacy status, a unanimous decision by the European Council to accept a country’s application.[19] The EU granted candidate status to Ukraine just four months after submitting its application, while Serbia waited four years.[20] Balkan leaders discussed the EU during a leaders panel at the annual Bled Strategic Forum.[21] “Who should attack whom in this panel to get the membership faster,” Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama quipped.[22] “Bulgaria can easily attack North Macedonia, Croatia can attack Serbia, Serbia can attack Kosovo, Bosnia can attack itself . . . so we can all be ready to join the train with Ukraine,” he continued.[23]
Despite Rama’s lighthearted attitude, frustrations among Balkan leaders continue to rise.[24] While some nations in the region have made significant strides in meeting the EU's democratic and economic standards, others continue to face hurdles. The future of the Western Balkans within the EU hinges on continued dialogue, cooperation, and the willingness of both sides to overcome the remaining obstacles.
[1] Xhorxhina Bami, Dutch More Accepting of EU Balkan Membership due to Ukraine War, Balkan Insight (Nov. 25, 2022, 6:05 PM), https://balkaninsight.com/2022/11/25/dutch-more-accepting-of-eu-balkan-membership-due-to-ukraine-war/.
[2] 2023 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen, European Commission (Sep. 13, 2023), https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_23_4426.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Before Its Too Late: How the EU Should Support the Western Balkans’ EU Ascension, European Council on Foreign Relations (Sep. 14, 2023), https://ecfr.eu/article/growing-pains-how-the-eu-should-support-the-western-balkans-eu-accession/.
[7] Aleksander Vasovic, Russia Says Serbia is Under Western Pressure to Join Sanctions, Reuters (March 14, 2023, 6:53 AM), https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-serbia-is-under-western-pressure-join-sanctions-2023-03-14/.
[8] Florian Bieber, Serbia’s Staged Balancing Act, Georgetown University (Aug 7, 2023), https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2023/08/07/serbias-staged-balancing-act/.
[9] Id.
[10] Serbia and Kosovo’s Hopes of Joining EU at Risk After Talks Breakdown Again, Euronews (Sep. 14, 2023, 10:45 PM), https://www.euronews.com/2023/09/14/serbia-and-kosovos-hopes-of-joining-eu-at-risk-after-talks-breakdown-again.
[11] Agreement on Normalizing Relations between Serbia, Kosovo ‘Historic Milestone’, Delegate Tells Security Council, United Nations (April 27, 2023), https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15268.doc.htm.; Jovana Gec, Llazar Semini, Serbia and Kosovo Leaders Break Off Talks Without Result Despite EU Push for Improved Relations, PBS (Oct. 26, 2023, 6:27 PM), https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/serbia-and-kosovo-leaders-break-off-talks-without-result-despite-eu-push-for-improved-relations.
[12] Gentiana Gola, Where Do Western Balkan Countries Really Stand on Democratic Performance?, IDEA (Dec 23, 2022), https://www.idea.int/blog/where-do-western-balkan-countries-really-stand-democratic-performance.
[13] Stephanie Halasz, Elinda Labropoulou, Sheena McKenzie, Macedonia Officially Changes Name to North Macedonia, Drawing Line Under Bitter Dispute, CNN (Feb. 13, 2019), https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/13/europe/north-macedonia-name-change-intl/index.html.
[14] Key Findings of the 2022 Report on Albania, European Commission (Oct. 12, 2022), https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/country_22_6091.
[15] Albania Constitutional Judge Fired, Not Proving Income, Fox News (March 23, 2018), https://www.foxnews.com/world/albania-constitutional-court-judge-fired-not-proving-income.
[16] Key Findings of the 2022 Report on Albania, European Commission (Oct. 12, 2022), https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/country_22_6091.
[17] Id.
[18] Marton Dunai, Ian Johnston, Balkans’ frustration mounts over Ukraine’s fast-track to EU membership, Financial Times (Sep. 17, 2023). https://www.ft.com/content/b654fe14-25b0-44f3-bea6-96a8596d6cde.
[19] Rebecca Leppert, How exactly do countries join the EU?, Pew Research Center (July 26, 2022), https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/07/26/how-exactly-do-countries-join-the-eu/.
[20] Id.
[21] Bled Strategic Forum International Conference, Bled Strategic Forum (Oct. 31, 2023), https://bledstrategicforum.org/bled-strategic-forum-international-conference/.
[22] Marton Dunai, Ian Johnston, Balkans’ frustration mounts over Ukraine’s fast-track to EU membership, Financial Times (Sep. 17, 2023). https://www.ft.com/content/b654fe14-25b0-44f3-bea6-96a8596d6cde.
[23] Id.
[24] Id.
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