EU Enlargement Policy Towards the Western Balkans: State Actors, Interests and Strategies
EU Enlargement Policy Towards the Western Balkans: State Actors, Interests and Strategies
Author(s): Celso Cancela Outeda, Paula Lamoso González, David Ramiro TroitiñoSubject(s): EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Socio-Economic Research, EU-Legislation, Geopolitics
Published by: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Keywords: enlargement; differentiated integration; Western Balkans; Germany; France;
Summary/Abstract: While the current EU Commission has shown a clear commitment to Western Balkans Enlargement, member states are divided. Germany and France, the two biggest EU member states have opposite views, whereas Germany is clearly in favour, France has its concerns. Throughout this article we assess the advantages (to enhance the geopolitical power of the EU) but also the challenges that this enlargement process entails (EU internal instability due to lack of rule of law). We conclude that differentiated integration could be the best option in finding a common agreement between the ones that support and the ones that oppose further EU enlargement by ensuring the EU influence in the region at the same time that it reduces the possible risks of internally weakening the EU.
Journal: European Studies - the Review of European Law, Economics and Politics
- Issue Year: 7/2020
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 296-324
- Page Count: 29
- Language: English