“New regional integration initiatives: a substitute for EU accession?”
Session
Law
Description
This paper examines the new initiatives for “regional integration” of Western Balkans, as an alternative to full EU integration. Three decades since the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, ideas on its reincarnation are re-actualized. Now; within “European” label. Recently scholars and diplomats are discussing alternatives for full EU accession of the countries from the Western Balkans, in the form of “regional economic integration”. They will be integrated regionally under Serbian dominance and replace their EU integration with Balkans sub-integration. In October 2019 Serbia launched in Novi Sad his project of “Balkans Mini- Schengen”, which was further discussed in Ohrid and Tirana in the same year. Due the non participation of three other countries (Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina), that idea “slept” till mid of 2021 when Balkans troika of: Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia re-discussed it. In parallel to that Serbian initiative, in the beginning of 2021 other alternatives to full membership circulated: from “associated membership” till free trade zone EU- WB. A proposal for substitution of full accession of the countries of the Western Balkans with only their participation in EU single market was sent in March this year. EC welcomed it, and Slovenian Presidency will push forward that project trough Serbia as leader of that regional alternative to EU integration. Based on status quo of EU enlargement and opposition of EU member states for accepting new members, for six countries of the Western Balkans will be offered just a kind of trade integration with the block without political integration. They will be allowed to be part of EU single market but not full EU members.
Keywords:
The European Union, EU Accession, Western Balkans, Balkans Mini-Schengen, regional market.
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-550-47-5
Location
UBT Kampus, Lipjan
Start Date
30-10-2021 12:00 AM
End Date
30-10-2021 12:00 AM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2021.149
Recommended Citation
Reka, Blerim, "“New regional integration initiatives: a substitute for EU accession?”" (2021). UBT International Conference. 80.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2021UBTIC/all-events/80
“New regional integration initiatives: a substitute for EU accession?”
UBT Kampus, Lipjan
This paper examines the new initiatives for “regional integration” of Western Balkans, as an alternative to full EU integration. Three decades since the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, ideas on its reincarnation are re-actualized. Now; within “European” label. Recently scholars and diplomats are discussing alternatives for full EU accession of the countries from the Western Balkans, in the form of “regional economic integration”. They will be integrated regionally under Serbian dominance and replace their EU integration with Balkans sub-integration. In October 2019 Serbia launched in Novi Sad his project of “Balkans Mini- Schengen”, which was further discussed in Ohrid and Tirana in the same year. Due the non participation of three other countries (Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina), that idea “slept” till mid of 2021 when Balkans troika of: Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia re-discussed it. In parallel to that Serbian initiative, in the beginning of 2021 other alternatives to full membership circulated: from “associated membership” till free trade zone EU- WB. A proposal for substitution of full accession of the countries of the Western Balkans with only their participation in EU single market was sent in March this year. EC welcomed it, and Slovenian Presidency will push forward that project trough Serbia as leader of that regional alternative to EU integration. Based on status quo of EU enlargement and opposition of EU member states for accepting new members, for six countries of the Western Balkans will be offered just a kind of trade integration with the block without political integration. They will be allowed to be part of EU single market but not full EU members.