For the time being, no new Balkan countries will join the European Union. That is what the European heads of government decided today at their summit in Slovenia. They have been promised that they will be able to join in the future, but no concrete perspective or date has been mentioned.
These are the six Balkan countries of Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo that have been trying to join the European Union for about twenty years. The last country to join the EU was Croatia in 2013.
Since then, there has been talk of further enlargement of the European Union, but several countries do not agree, partly because the decision-making process with 27 countries is already difficult enough. It is therefore absolutely no surprise to the Balkan countries that the summit again did not set a date for their accession to the EU.
The six countries are at different stages in the accession process. Formal accession negotiations are already underway with Montenegro and Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia are ready to start accession negotiations, Kosovo and Bosnia are not yet there.
Although Albania and North Macedonia meet the conditions for accession negotiations, they too have no prospects today. Bulgaria in particular objects to talks with North Macedonia, because of a conflict over language and national identity.
Disappointed
The disappointment of the Balkan countries was clearly noticeable. North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev warned the EU that continuing to delay could have major consequences. “People in the Western Balkans will be very disappointed and that will damage the image of European unity and cooperation.” Speaking to Serbian media, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he is not surprised by the outcome. “We do not have the illusion that we will join the EU in the short term.”
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen believes that the six Balkan countries belong to the EU, but that something still needs to be done. “We share the same history, we share the same values and I am convinced that we share the same fate.”
Closer ties
European leaders have announced that they will invest €30 billion in the region over the next seven years. Although the heads of government are not sure when or whether the Balkan countries will join the EU, everyone wants to maintain close ties with the region. There are serious concerns that Russia’s and China’s influence on the region will become too great if the EU continues to delay accession indefinitely.
The aim is therefore to strengthen trade relations between the Balkans and the EU. In addition, work is also underway to reduce roaming charges in the Balkans.
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