BCSDN Background Analysis of the Enlargement Package 2019: A Star Is Born, but the Region Is Not Shining

BCSDN published its 10th analysis of the annual Commission Enlargement Reports, assesing the progress made in the area of civil society development and dialogue with public institutions in 2019, set against BCSDN’s Monitoring Matrix. Along with the progess reports, the EC published a Communication on EU Enlargement Policy, noting with a remarkably positive tone the historic agreement on a 27 year dispute achieved by the country now called North Macedonia, and profound reforms in the area of rule of law in in North Macedonia and in Albania. The EC recommends opening of accession negotiations and gives a fair warning that “failure to reward objective progress by moving to the next stage of the European path would damage the EU’s credibility throughout the region and beyond“. The Communication points out however, that the other countries have stagnated in their efforts, in particular in the crucial areas of rule of law and fundamental rights highlighting that these shortcomings “often correlate with a lack of political will, institutional resistance and an increasingly hostile environment for civil society.” Read the full analysis here.

Source: BCSDN