This EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy paper assesses the current state of play in the process of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. It examines ways of accelerating the process, asking the question whether the EU and the Commission in particular possess appropriate tools to deal with the ‘complicated’ candidate countries in a complex international reality. The paper argues that, although the recent changes in the Commission’s approach to candidate countries are positive, there is more to be done to re-energize the process and encourage domestic reforms in these countries. The Commission needs to regain the role of key driver of the enlargement policy and refrain from a pure bureaucratic approach, lacking enthusiasm for accepting new members. The paper is available for download here.
Source: PASOS
