Regardless of the progress made by some Western Balkan nations corresponding to North Macedonia and Albania, challenges stay in terms of EU accession, together with unresolved points such because the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and the necessity for structural reforms
EU enlargement coverage in terms of the Western Balkans was the principle subject of dialog at a debate organised by Hellenic Basis for European and Overseas Coverage (ELIAMEP) and the Bled Strategic Discussion board (BSF) in Athens.
The brand new Montenegro authorities’s committment to align with EU requirements makes it the most probably subsequent addition to the bloc.
To start accession negotiations, candidate nations should first implement reforms comparable to chapters of the EU “acquis” – a set of frequent rights and obligations that represent the physique of EU regulation, integrated into the authorized methods of EU Member States.
There are presently 35 chapters within the EU acquis – Montenegro has opened 33 of those for evaluate, however has solely closed three.
However the nation’s new authorities has recent vitality, and is dedicated to European integration, Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorsevic, informed Euronews.
“Within the first 100 days of the federal government we’ve got proven that we had an open dialogue, not solely with the political majority but additionally with the opposition relating to the European course,” mentioned Gorsevic. “So that is one thing that encourages us on this manner, this is a chance that we make the most of in addition to the encouraging messages that we obtain from Brussels, the European Fee and all our European companions.”
Regardless of the progress made by some Western Balkan nations, corresponding to North Macedonia and Albania, challenges stay, together with unresolved points such because the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and the necessity for structural reforms.
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik , charged with European integration, informed Euronews his nation confronted extra obstacles than others, which made the face to EU accession tough.
“We’re nonetheless fighting recognition by 5 EU members. and we’re nonetheless within the dialogue course of. However we’ve got little management over the result of this course of ,” Bislimi mentioned.
Whereas there’s assist for enlargement from European politicians, with initiatives such because the New Improvement Plan for the Western Balkans, questions stay in regards to the course of the method.
“If we lengthen it and lengthen it indefinitely into the long run, then we are going to find yourself with the identical realities that we’ve got as we speak, that’s, with the Western Balkans area exterior the European Union, and I’m not certain whether or not in the long run the EU, not solely the Western Balkans, however the EU can stand up to this,” mentioned Slovenia’s Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Marko Stučin.
The European Fee has advisable the beginning of EU accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, eight years after the Western Balkan nation utilized to affix the bloc. The inexperienced gentle for accession talks is more likely to come on this week’s EU Summit.
