EU enlargement policy regarding the Western Balkans was the main topic of conversation during a debate organized by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) and the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) in Athens.
Montenegro’s new government’s commitment to aligning with EU standards makes it the most likely next country. addition to the block.
To begin accession negotiations, candidate countries must first implement reforms corresponding to chapters of the EU “acquis” – a set of common rights and obligations that constitute the body of law of the EU, incorporated into the legal systems of the EU Member States.
The EU acquis currently has 35 chapters. Montenegro opened 33 for review, but closed only three.
But the country’s new government has new energy and is committed to European integration, European Affairs Minister Maida Gorsevic told Euronews.
“In the first 100 days of government, we showed that we have an open dialogue, not only with the political majority but also with the opposition regarding the European course,” Gorsevic said. “So it is something that encourages us in this way, it is an opportunity that we are taking advantage of as well as the encouraging messages that we are receiving from Brussels, from the European Commission and from all our European partners.”
Despite the progress made by some Western Balkan countries, such as North Macedonia and Albania, challenges remain, including unresolved issues such as Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and the need for structural reforms.
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik, who is responsible for European integration, told Euronews that his country faced more obstacles than others, making it difficult to join the EU.
“We are still struggling to get recognition from five EU members. And we are still in the process of dialogue. But we have little control over the outcome of this process,” Bismimi said.
Even though European politicians support enlargement, with initiatives such as New development plan for the Western Balkansquestions remain about the direction of the process.
“If we extend it and extend it indefinitely into the future, we will end up with the same realities as today, that is, with the Western Balkans region outside the European Union, and I do not “I’m not sure that in the long term the EU, not just the Western Balkans, but the EU, can resist it,” said Slovenia’s Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marko Stučin.
The European Commission has recommended the start of EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, eight years after the Western Balkan country applied to join the bloc. The green light for accession negotiations is expected to be given at this week’s EU summit.