Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova are now officially candidates for membership in the European Union. The prospect of accession aims to send a signal of solidarity and support, particularly towards kyiv. But what does this kind of promise mean for the country currently bravely defending itself against Russian invasion? What treacherous path awaits Ukraine (and Moldova)? To get closer to an answer, it is necessary to look at the Western Balkan states, which have been struggling for two decades between hope and frustration with a view to their accession.
Montenegro and Serbia have been negotiating for about a decade. But they have yet to make progress on central issues of the accession process, such as the rule of law and the fight against corruption. North Macedonia and Albania have fulfilled all preconditions for the start of accession negotiations. But due to EU member state Bulgaria’s veto on the basis of identity politics, no tangible progress has been recorded. The European summit of June 23 failed to break this impasse. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina must meet other conditions to gain candidate status, and Kosovo is grappling with the fact that five EU member states still do not recognize its independence. Additionally, it is the only Balkan country that still requires visas to enter the EU, although it has fulfilled all conditions for visa liberalization.
Balancing the need for reform and expedited procedure
There is no doubt that all Western Balkan countries belong to Europe and should one day become full members of the European Union. But there is no doubt that all these states still need to undertake reforms, notably in the fight against corruption, organized crime, the rule of law, media freedom and in many other areas. Solving these problems is in the interest of the people and in the interest of the sustainability of the communities of these countries. The EU accession process offers a clear roadmap, external pressure – essential – as well as resources and support for the reform process. At the same time, the goals of these reform efforts are often at odds with the self-interests of the countries’ political elites who are supposed to bring about these changes. They would dry up their sources of power and income.
Progress can be made by taking intermediate steps that already provide greater benefits on the path to the ultimate goal.
Among political advisors and leaders there is a lively debate on how to make the EU accession process more efficient in order to actually achieve the desired results and not just produce stagnation and frustration. Some choose a pragmatic approach in this debate: we must focus on what really works, namely economic cooperation. By reducing trade barriers, fostering closer integration into EU value chains, fostering foreign investment in the Balkans, creating jobs and fostering prosperity, progressive integration into the European Union can work. However, this will only succeed if there is legal certainty and a functional administration. Full membership remains the long-term goal.
However, difficult areas such as regional conflict resolution, democratic participation and media freedom as well as political co-determination within the European Union must be put aside for the moment. However, progress can be made by taking intermediate steps that already provide greater benefits on the path to the ultimate goal. For example, applicants could benefit from early access to the EU’s powerful structural funds in order to catch up with member states more quickly.
‘Back to basics’
Others suggest that the political dimension of enlargement can be created through a new geopolitical framework. EU Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron, for example, have proposed different variants of a geopolitical community that, regardless of its membership in the European Union, should send a clear signal of unity in times of escalating geopolitical conflicts. This community should also be open to the Western Balkan states as well as Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. However, this should not be an alternative to full membership of the European Union.
The return to the foundations of the EU must not lead to a situation in which neighboring states languish in an eternal waiting room because they do not meet the lofty demands to which – to be honest – not even all member states cannot answer.
Finally, others once again call on the EU to return to its principles: the “return to basics”. The Copenhagen criteria set the standards of democracy, human rights and a market economy as preconditions for the EU accession process. Only a return to these founding principles could give the EU accession process the transformative power it needs to demand drastic reforms in candidate countries. At the same time, such a return to the foundations of the European Union must also guide the process of internal reform in order to restore the luster to the aura of the European Union.
It is certain that no progress will be possible without healthy pragmatism. But the deep conflicts between a partly kleptocratic elite and the reform aspirations of the EU accession process cannot be resolved by common sense alone. The vague formulations of a geopolitical community that circulated in the run-up to the recent EU summit failed to inspire the deliberations of heads of state and government. Clearly, more substantive and resilient alliances and rules are needed. The return to the foundations of the EU – however inevitable it may be – must not lead to a situation in which the states of our neighborhood languish in the eternal waiting room because they do not meet the noble demands which , in fact, not even all member states can come together.
Democratize societies
One of the keys to resolving this difficult situation in the EU accession process lies in the democratization of societies. Only if support for EU membership and the necessary reforms can be gained among the populations of the countries concerned can internal pressure be increased to overcome the blockades. To achieve this, political partners are important, as they promote this accession process, explain the benefits of membership and defend the necessary efforts.
Too often, the European Union has relied on forces that promised to fight corruption in their countries and replace the old elites, only to then gain access to the riches of power themselves..
The democratization of society goes well beyond the steps envisaged in the EU accession process and includes, for example, co-determination in the workplace and in trade unions. Too often, the European Union has relied on forces that promised to fight corruption in their countries and replace the old elites, only to then gain access to the riches of power themselves.
To ensure that the prospect of Ukraine’s membership does not become – as in the Western Balkans – a figure of frustration and disappointment, we need partners in countries that not only promise stability and control, but also share our values and follow them in action. Of course, this applies not only to the group of countries participating in the European integration process, which now numbers nine, but also to those blocking progress within the EU.