De la formula „one size fits all” la condiționalitate diferențiată: o analiză comparativă a proceselor de aderare la UE ale Muntenegrului și Serbiei
From “One Size Fits All” to Differentiated Conditionality: A Comparative Analysis of the EU Accession Process of Montenegro and Serbia

Summary/Abstract: This article analyses whether the European Union applies a uniform or differentiated approach in its enlargement policy through a comparison between Montenegro and Serbia. Formally, EU accession is based on common rules, especially the Copenhagen criteria and the adoption of the acquis communautaire, which suggests a “one size fits all” model. Using official EU documents and academic literature, the paper shows that Montenegro largely follows the traditional enlargement model, with negotiations focused on internal reforms, such as the rule of law, judicial independence, and anti-corruption measures. In contrast, Serbia faces an additional political condition: the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, monitored through Chapter 35 of the accession process. The comparison demonstrates that, although the formal accession framework is common to all candidate states, the practical application of EU conditionality is differentiated. The article concludes that the “one size fits all” approach remains valid only at the formal level, while, in practice, the EU adapts its enlargement policy to the political and strategic context of each candidate country.

• Details
• Contents