The EU’s Comitology: An Opportunity for Early Institutional Integration of the Western Balkan
The EU’s Comitology: An Opportunity for Early Institutional Integration of the Western Balkan

Author(s): Đorđe Dimitrov
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: Centar za evropske politike CEP
Keywords: EU; Western Balkan; EU enlargement
Summary/Abstract: Ever since 2022, the EU enlargement policy has stepped a gear up, with gradual integration becoming the mainstream narrative for future accessions. This shift reflects a recognition that the EU and candidate countries should deepen their cooperation even prior to obtaining membership. While previous approaches to enlargement focused primarily on aligning regulatory frameworks, accompanied by ongoing efforts to increase access to the EU’s single market, the emerging consensus among think tanks stresses the importance of broader institutional engagement. This would allow candidate countries to familiarise themselves with EU decision-making processes, contribute to policy discussions, and develop the administrative capacities required for full membership. One key, yet underutilised, mechanism for such engagement lies in EU comitology. It represents a system of over 200 active committees headed by the European Commission and composed of EU member states’ officials, which plays an important role in shaping policies across various sectors. By involving candidate and aspiring candidate countries in these committees, the EU could foster a more

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