What Can the EU Do about the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans?

The ongoing debate at the EU and Member State levels on the new enlargement methodology indicates that there is a different understanding across Europe on how to renew the accession process. The French veto over the start of EU accession talks with N. Macedonia and Albania, despite the EC’s recommendation, and a non-paper coming from the same address, have divided the views in the WB and the EU. Actors are split between those who find the necessary impetus to revitalize the process in the French document, and those who see it only as a new attempt to keep the WB countries at a distance, with aggravating steps for candidate countries that will not necessarily lead to an acceleration of the democratization process. The policy brief by EFB proposes elements for a new methodology for the enlargement process which relates specifically to rule of law reform in the WB. Read more here.

Source: European Fund for the Balkans