The 2024 European Parliament Elections made a lot of noise with the rise of far-right parties. The impact of these election results on the European Union’s (EU) policy towards the Western Balkans has been a matter of curiosity.
The enlargement of the EU to include the Balkan countries came to the agenda after the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1990. The instability and fragmentation that emerged in the region after the dissolution of Yugoslavia deeply affected the security of the region. The task of preventing instability in the Balkans, which is important for the security of the European continent, fell to the EU. Therefore, the EU started to play an active role to ensure stability and democratic reforms in the region. For this purpose, the EU launched the Stabilization and Association process in 1999. This paved the way for reforms in the region in line with EU standards.
In 2003, at the Thessaloniki Summit, EU foreign ministers declared that the Western Balkans were “part of Europe”. It was also decided at this summit that the Western Balkans would be admitted to the EU upon fulfilment of the Copenhagen Criteria. Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro in the Western Balkans have embarked on a rapid reform process in order to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. Croatia was the earliest country to complete this reform process and joined the EU as a full member in 2013.[1]
The EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans faces various challenges and delays. Each country needs to complete internal reforms, fight corruption and make progress in resolving regional issues. In addition, the status of Kosovo is an important issue affecting the EU integration process in the region. There are differences of opinion between countries that recognize Kosovo’s independence and those that do not. Serbia, in particular, has been causing problems on this issue as it claims that Kosovo is its territory. Today, EU membership negotiations are still ongoing. Montenegro is the closest Western Balkans country to join the EU.
The rise of far-right parties in the recent European Parliament Elections may significantly affect the EU’s policy in the Western Balkans. Although the rising number of migrants in recent years has contributed to the rise of the far-right, the related factor of terrorism should not be ignored. The environment of insecurity has led to the rise of far-right parties at home. The Western Balkans are geopolitically important for Europe’s security. It is a buffer zone for migrants coming from the Middle East. Russia also has a great influence on the Balkan geography, which has a heterogeneous population. Especially Russia’s influence on Serbia and Serbian nationalists deepens the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia.
Russia, currently at war with Ukraine, is a security threat to Europe. Therefore, it seems important for Europe’s security to continue its enlargement in the Western Balkans. Indeed, Belgian Ambassador to Montenegro and Serbia Cathy Buggenhout stated this security concern and the necessity of the EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans in an interview after the European Parliament Elections. In the same interview, she stated that the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans has already been politically approved by the EU and that this process will not stop. He also reminded the Western Balkan countries of the “values of the EU” by emphasizing the issue of sharing and respecting the same values.[2]
The EU has made significant investments in the Western Balkans throughout this enlargement process. The reason for these investments is to support the reform process of the countries. Thus, the countries will have an easier economic transition. It also aims to strengthen the channels of political dialogue by promoting regional cooperation. This is an important incentive to increase mutual trust between the countries. It also aims to expand the areas of knowledge and cultural interaction through various educational programs and tries to build a space within the framework of common values.
The EU’s efforts to integrate the Western Balkans into European values since 1999 are undeniable. The fact that it is a region that is particularly important for its security demonstrates the importance of its efforts. The EU’s enlargement process in the Balkans aims to ensure the region’s integration into Europe and its long-term stability in terms of its own security. However, the ongoing political and economic instability in the Western Balkans is hampering the EU’s enlargement process. In addition, the results of the recent European Parliament Elections have raised the question “Is the EU still willing to enlarge in the Western Balkans?”. However, it seems that the EU needs a stable Western Balkans for its own security. Even if the accession process is not finalized depending on the internal and external dynamics of many countries, the EU has to keep the Western Balkans under control by continuing negotiations.
[1] “AB’nin yeni genişleme hedefi Batı Balkanlar”, AA, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/analiz/ab-nin-yeni-genisleme-hedefi-bati-balkanlar/1789272, (Date of Access: 15.06.2024).
[2] “(EWB Interwiew ) Buggenhout: EU enlargement is politically agreed, and no one will stop it.”, European Western Balkans, https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2024/06/14/ewb-interview-buggenhout-eu-enlargement-is-politically-agreed-and-no-one-will-stop-it/, (Date of Access: 15.06.2024).
