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Leaders of the Western Balkans and the European Union are meeting in London this week for a summit that could be an opportunity to jump-start stalled reforms and focus attention on crucial issues. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance it’s full of hot air.
Hosted by the United Kingdom, the meeting brings together the leaders of six Western Balkan countries and their closest European Union partners with the stated aim of strengthening political dialogue on security cooperation and economic stability In the region.
However, neither the promotion of human rights nor the rule of law – key criteria for possible future EU membership – were even mentioned.
This may give the impression to some that the situation is calm in these departments – but this is far from the case.
The Western Balkans remain trapped by the low expectations of EU and US governments, which have long prioritized stability over building democratic institutions capable of ensuring respect for human and state rights by right.
Across the region, minorities face serious difficulties in securing their rights.
The plight of the Roma is particularly striking. As elsewhere, they remain marginalized and victims of discrimination. Bosnia and Herzegovina still does not recognize them as fully equal citizens. This leaves them and other minority groups without equal rights to political participation and constitutional protection, even though the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Bosnia’s position on this constitutes a violation. human rights.
Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro systematically deny Roma equal access to basic services. They are often forcibly evicted without access to adequate alternative housing.
Kosovo’s Roma – those who were not forced to flee during the Kosovo war – are isolated in informal settlements. Roma people the UN placed in lead-contaminated camps when it administered Kosovo wait for compensation. A United Nations trust fund for community assistance projects received no donations.
The flow of migrants along the “Western Balkans route” has eased. But governments sometimes still resort to enhanced border protection measures, including violently pushing back migrants from Croatia, an EU member since 2013, and Serbia, or detaining them in inhumane conditions in Macedonia. Support groups and volunteers try to help migrants in Serbia and Bosnia, but this does not replace the provision of adequate reception conditions by governments.
People with disabilities are also denied their rights. In Croatia, children and adults wPeople with disabilities remain stuck in institutions. In Serbia, the recent increase in the number of disabled children placed in institutionsand their lack of access to education, raise similar concerns, despite Serbia’s promises that these children will be able to attend school.
Journalists and human rights defenders work in a hostile environment across the region. Threats, even violent attacks, are frequent in Serbia and Montenegro. Some face smear campaigns and personal attacks for investigating powerful political and business interests. However, they come together defend their rights beyond borders.
Fortunately, London’s agenda includes what it euphemistically calls “legacy issues” – which in fact remain the region’s present issues.
The failure to adequately address war crimes and other wartime abuses contributes to perpetuating today’s political conflicts. Investigations are underfunded, convicted war criminals are often glorified in their home countries, and cross-border cooperation is minimal. Organizations that advocate for justice for war crimes are portrayed as foreign agents in some countries.
If Britain and other EU members want to increase stability in the Western Balkans, they should insist on effective cooperation between the region’s war crimes prosecutors and police, to ensure that people cannot evade their responsibilities by settling in another country or acquiring their nationality.
The Kosovo authorities should cooperate fully with the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, established to examine serious abuses committed during and after the war. Building societies based on the rule of law requires holding accountable those who have committed serious crimes, even if they hold positions of power.
The EU accession process – a key reform mechanism – has essentially stalled since Croatia joined the bloc.
The European Commission new strategy for the region, which aimed to revive the idea of membership, has already encountered difficulties. EU member states, including Francehave postponed the decision to open negotiations with Albania and Macedonia until next June.
It is perhaps even more telling that, during its six-monthly EU presidency, Austria has more or less abandoned the region as a priority. Considering Austria’s strong history of engagement with its neighborhood, this suggests that even the region’s former champions are losing interest.
This should change. EU governments should recognize that the genuine prospect of membership, combined with human rights conditionality, can help spur reforms, and that long-term stability requires democratic institutions capable of responding meet the needs of citizens and protect them.
A glimmer of hope lies in the fact that some of the states that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s should sign a declaration this could lead to the creation of a regional truth and reconciliation commission. This is an approach long advocated by non-governmental groups in the region.
This commission would strive to establish a comprehensive account of the crimes and victims of the conflicts. All regional governments present at the summit should commit to signing.
The Western Balkans region faces real human rights challenges that would benefit from effective cooperation between its states and international support.
If Britain really wants a “strong, stable and prosperous” neighborhood, these issues should receive more attention at the summit.
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