The promise of greater interaction with European economies and 6 billion euros of investment in the Western Balkans. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is heading to the region to visit candidate countries to join the European Union and persuade them to accelerate the necessary reforms. There are a number of obstacles that need to be managed to complete integration processes: wooden bureaucracies, corruption and organized crime that still exist in the regions. Finally, Brussels fears the still simmering ethno-religious conflict between Serbia and Kosovo. The responsibility for slow-motion harmony does not lie solely in the Balkans. There are other reasons behind the slowdown starting from block 27. Nobody wants to give up the European funds going to Southeastern Europe, nor the difficult balances achieved within institutions in recent years. to be shaken by new entries.
early openings
The revival of the Balkan economies depends on liquidity. The EU is ready to support the region with another $6 billion of investment, but it also plans to open up to the free movement of goods and services, especially in the transport and energy sectors, before the accession process is completed. Von der Leyen said this during the first two days of the visit. Liberalizations for which the Balkan countries are not necessarily ready. During his visit to the Balkans, the German politician stated that the European investment package aims to double the economies of Kosovo and North Macedonia in the next decade. However, in order to make the most of membership, the necessary reforms need to be completed. In Skopje, for example, the leadership of the European administration called on all parties to support the constitutional changes necessary for joining the bloc in order to benefit from the promised economic opportunities.
long-established crime
The problems in the region are not just bureaucratic. ManagementSuch as reforms in the judicial system or the fight against corruption, but these involve deeper social elements. Many economies are closely linked to organized crime, such as that of Kosovo. According to the World Bank, a significant portion of the money in Pristina and its surroundings is obtained from smuggling, human and drug trafficking, as well as black market-related activities. The small Balkan country is also most problematic in another respect: the instability of relations with Serbia, which does not intend to recognize its independence.
A message to Kurti
The conflict between Pristina and Belgrade worsened last year, with serious clashes at the end of May and a terrorist attack by a Serbian paramilitary group entering northern Kosovo that killed a Kosovo police officer. A situation that has not been calmed even by the constant mediation of Brussels and the international community. “The history of enlargement is the history of the countries emerging from the Second World War. It is the history of peace, reconciliation and normalization of relations, and therefore it is a precondition for joining the EU,” von der Leyen recalled. Send a clear message to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. In mid-September, he expressed doubts about the promises of the EU institutions regarding the expansion prospects, considering that the European vote will be held in June 2024: “The elections are based on changes.” Michel (President of the European Council) Kurti was skeptical of Brussels’ promises, saying: “He is a great president, But we won’t be there next year. The commission will not be there as it is. “This is not a decision these people can make,” he said.
Montenegro’s efforts
On October 31, the German Chairman of the Commission traveled to Montenegro, which for years has been considered one of the countries that has made the most progress in the necessary reform process. After getting rid of the hulking figure of Milo Dukanovic, who initiated the pro-European turn but was accused of ruling the country through his own clans, including criminal ones, the new government in Podgorica has just been christened after weeks of negotiations. Its leader should be economist Milojko Spajic from the Europe Now Movement. The coalition will include the centre-right European Democrats, the pro-Serbian Socialist People’s Party and five Albanian minority parties.
Spajic said economic policies will include reforms aimed at increasing tax revenues, investments and improving the justice system. The aim is to put conflicts aside and complete the participation process together. Montenegro’s accession was envisaged by former Commission president Juncker in 2025. This date will move away as the horizon moves to 2030. “Congratulations on your 100% compliance with the EU’s common foreign policy and security. We are a valuable member of NATO. I am pleased that you are focusing on the membership goal: now we have to walk the final road together,” said von der Leyen, adding that Brussels is encouraging sanctions against Russia. He congratulated Podgorica for deciding to implement it.
Fear of sharing the cake
Next week, the Commission is expected to examine the enlargement package and evaluate the report on the progress made by the candidate countries. Beyond the conflicts and difficulties in implementing the necessary reforms, as well as some of the evils that also affect the countries that are already members, there are other factors that hinder enlargement in terms of Block 27. Governments will lose the European subsidies they have benefited from so far. Brussels will tend to spend this money on new entrants, as it has in the past. The fear is not unfounded, given the Commission’s commitment to supporting the most backward countries, especially the most backward regions, to lift them up and bring them into line with other powerful countries. A difficult, long and expensive task that will focus on the fragmented and fragile Balkan economies. There is also the migration factor, where the territory of the region through which thousands of migrants pass irregularly is considered “gruyere”. With accession, the already fragile “Fortress Europe” will lose the “buffers” on its borders.
Balances to change
As the Portuguese Finance Minister reminded a few weeks ago, it is feared that eastward expansion will also have an impact at the geopolitical level. Minister Fernando summarized that the change would have to be evaluated “in terms of geopolitical issues, where eastward enlargement will naturally strengthen the eastward tendency of the European Union, but above all in terms of all financial and governance instruments at the Union level.” Medina during a conference in Lisbon. Subtext: There are those who fear Serbia’s historical relations with Russia, and there are those who fear the entry of Muslim-majority countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, the governments of the 27 countries fear longer and more complex decision-making processes in which negotiations could become exhausting or lead to borderline situations, as in Poland and Hungary, which have been discredited by both Brussels and the EU parliament. Aware of these limits, von der Leyen has promised to work on reforming institutions before completing enlargement, but the Balkan people’s confidence in being fully “European” may wear out in the meantime and they may perhaps choose to look elsewhere.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
