EU is committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, both within its member states and in candidate countries. These values are central to the EU’s enlargement policy, which prioritizes rule of law reforms, which features a “fundamentals first” approach. Recently, the EU has opened some of its key rule of law mechanisms, such as the EU Rule of Law Reports and FRA, and EESC to candidate countries. Additionally, the New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, aimed at supporting socio-economic development and EU accession reforms, places the rule of law at its core by tying financial support to legal reforms. While these initiatives demonstrate the EU’s strategic approach to fostering governance and growth, challenges in their implementation persist. The recent EPI paper explores these challenges and provides recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of these mechanisms in ensuring stability, prosperity, and adherence to European values in the Western Balkans. Find the paper here.
Source: European Policy Institute (EPI)