Western Balkans and EU (58)

 Democratisation and reform in SEE 

posted by Julia 14 years ago
The latest newsletter of the "Development and Transition" platform (LSE + UNDP) focuses on democratisation in Central and (South) Eastern Europe - the pdf-version can be downloaded here. I found the interview with Thomas Carothers (who is very critical of Western democratisation efforts in (South) Eastern Europe) quite interesting - here some quotes: 


 Vortrag/Gespräch in Düsseldorf: Europa und der Balkan 

posted by Julia 14 years ago
Das Düsseldorfer Instituts für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik e.V. (DIAS) an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität lädt zum 3. Uni Talk über "Europa und der Balkan: Identitäten, Interessen, Perspektiven" mit Dr. Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Botschafter a.D., Bonn.
WANN? Donnerstag, 7. Mai 2009, 12:30 Uhr  - 14:00 Uhr
WO? Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Seminarraum 01.05 (Geb. 24.91, Altes Juridicum) (Wegbeschreibung hier) (Eintritt frei)


 Wars of symbols 

posted by Julia 15 years ago
The Czech EU Presidency installation Entropa (pdf booklet) by the Czech artist David Černý triggered a lot of debate and criticism - so much that there is even a summary of the debate  on Wikipedia. Bulgarian TV moderator Boyko Vassilev explains why: 
"By creating a project where everyone feels offended, Cerny (perhaps unintentionally) shows how fragile Europe is in a world constantly driven by wars of symbols and representation. It shows also how this war could ignite along the fringes of or even within the union." (more...)

 Visa facilitation in the W-Balkans 

posted by Julia 15 years ago

The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) and King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) organise a conference on 10 December 2008 in Brussels on: “Does it really matter? Visa facilitation in the Western Balkans: Monitoring of the new agreements”. More information on the conference and the conference programme can be found here.

 EULEX between hopes and fears 

posted by Julia 15 years ago

The new EULEX mission should be operational in a few days. Its legal basis is a report by the Secretary General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo which was adopted by the UN Security Council last week:

"I expect EULEX to move forward with its deployment in the coming period and to assume responsibilities in the areas of policing, justice and customs, under the overall authority of the United Nations, under a United Nations umbrella headed by my Special Representative, and in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). UNMIK has been working closely with EULEX on technical arrangements designed to facilitate its deployment under resolution 1244 (1999)." (Ban Ki Moon in the Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 24 November 2008) (click on "MORE" to read on)

 Caucasus - Balkans ? 

posted by Julia 15 years ago

Drawing parallels and simplification helps us to understand the world. However, it can also lead to misunderstandings when parallels are drawn between very distinct situations and issues. The Caucasus crisis has often been compared to the Balkans and to the Cyprus issue. I do not have any problems with comparisons as long as they are balanced and take into account the differences. A lot of recent press comments lacked this balance and were based on simplistic equations such as Russia+Serbia vs. Kosovo+US+EU and Russia+South Ossetia+Abkhazia vs. Georgia+US+EU. Those same analysts were asking: "How come Russia is first against independence in the Kosovo-case and then pro-independence?" - acknowledging thereby the limits of their own system of analysis.
 

 State-building and EU integration 

posted by Julia 15 years ago

Tonight I just want to share a quote with you from an ECFR article by U. Guérot on EU and state building (the article is from February, but still remains of interest):

 Western Balkans - EU update 

posted by Julia 15 years ago

The coalition negotiations in Serbia have been ongoing for more than a month now, without too many results - some analysts worry about the consequences for the economy. Goran Svilanovic nevertheless is optimist: even a nationalist coalition would not impede Serbia's way into the EU, but only slow it down. Albert Rohan is less optimistic. And - à propos EU integration - Bosnia is looking forward to the signature of the SAA on 16 June - so much that everybody wants to take part! Macedonia hoped to start accession talks soon, but these may be postponed after the violent incidents during last Sunday's elections. And of course, EU integration may be hampered by the Greek-Macedonian name debate. In any case, the good news is that ...

 Balkans on TV 

posted by Julia 15 years ago

After a few weeks without a stable internet connection, this blog is alive again! If you have access to German TV, you can enjoy a series of ESI-documentaries on the Balkans in May and June. They will also be shown on Austrian TV in autumn 2008.

 Who really wants new EU member states? 

posted by Julia 16 years ago

Brussels is constantly promising money and EU accession to the Western Balkans. But which EU member state really wants new EU members, wonders H-J Schlamp in an opinion piece for the SPIEGEL (which I copy pasted below). The EU seems to be increasingly critical of Croatia's progress in accession negotiations, and does not seem to be willing to set a date for the start of negotiations with Macedonia (which has been waiting for more than two years (!!) after having been granted candidate status in December 2005). Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia-Herzegovina could maybe start accession negotiations in 2015... and Serbia - well, it could be well on its way into the EU, if it had reacted differently to Kosovo's independence declaration. Read more below (only in German, unfortunately)...

 

 The EU did it.. and Kosovo did it, too 

posted by Julia 16 years ago

"They did it. Contrary to expectations, they did it. Not the Kosovars who declared independence from Serbia on Sunday. But the European Union. Faced with Kosovo's long-expected move, the 27 EU countries largely stuck together, more or less agreed on a line to take, and have now begun the orderly deployment of a new ESDP mission." (Daniel Korski in the Guardian/Comment is free).

Indeed, the EU Council decided on Saturday 16 February to launch an EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo - EULEX Kosovo - which is due to start "after a 120-day transition period from the decision to launch", that is in about 4 months. After this important decision, the EU Council agreed to disagree on Monday on recognising the independence of Kosovo. It merely noted "that Member States will decide, in accordance with national practice and international law, on their relations with Kosovo." (cf. Tagesschau, 18.2.2008, click on "EU zu Kosovo"). 

 

 The Balkans as a test for Europe 

posted by Julia 16 years ago

Two new publications on the EU and the Western Balkans: in a short comment for the Guardian, Ian Bancroft explains why Kosovo is a crucial test for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. In a new CAP study, Dominik Tolksdorf and Milka Vilovski develop 4 scenarios for the EU (non-)integration of the Western Balkans (in German). And for those of you who happen to be in Berlin on 28 November, there will be a panel discussion on "Revisiting the Europeanisation of the Balkans" at the Hertie School of Governance (Schloßplatz 1, Berlin) at 12:00 (click here to download the invitation/pdf).

 The race for the SAA 

posted by Julia 16 years ago

Last week, the Commission published progress reports on the EU integration process of Kosovo and the potential candidate countries Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia. All of these reports listed the "usual" shortcomings: corruption, weak judiciary, slow political reforms, weak civil society ... (cf. BIRN and an EU Commission press release).

 A stronger EU involvement in the Balkans? 

posted by Julia 16 years ago

Regularly, European think tanks and analysts advocate a stronger EU involvement in the (Western) Balkans (cf. this blog 5 June and 20 July).

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 Western Balkans and EU - Part 44 

posted by julia 16 years ago
The German Ministry of Finance plans a High-Level Meeting on Remittances in Berlin from 28-30 November. According to Worldbank estimates, remittances to developing countries (about 250 billion dollars) are about double as high as world-wide development aid and much higher than foreign direct investments. The most important countries of origin of remittances are the US, Saudi-Arabia, and Germany. Most remittances from Germany go to Turkey, Italy, and to Serbia and Montenegro.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 43 

posted by julia 16 years ago
Arben Hajrullahu, who used to co-post on this blog, has published his first book: Long term peace in the Western Balkans through EU-Integration (in German language) in the Nomos publishing house. The book can already be ordered on Amazon.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 42 

posted by julia 16 years ago
Here is the programme (pdf) of the "Balkan Days" organised by the Südost-Institut in Munich.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 41 

posted by julia 16 years ago
I just read an advertisement for a conference entitled From Emigrant to Immigrant Cultures: New Migrations in the Balkans and the Mediterranean (Long Beach/California, April 2008, more info below) and thought it might be interesting to conduct research on the Chinese diaspora in Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia... "While it may be too early to discuss established migrant or hybrid cultures in these nations..." - Well, I think, it is not too early, as there are already well-established Chinese shops and restaurants in Pristina, and outside Sarajevo there is a real "Chinatown". "How does the host culture respond to the presence of the immigrant, or is their presence ignored and why?" is a question I often wondered about. Indeed, the Chinese presence seems to be more or less ignored by the local population (except by people who occasionally buy in Chinese shops), and I cannot detect any particular interest in the Chinese culture or language on the Kosovar or Bosnian side... Maybe because they are seen as transitory guests migrating on towards the EU? Interesting topic anyway.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 40 

posted by julia 16 years ago
The last Eurobarometer was published recently. According to the first results, 49% of EU citizens were in favor of further enlargement of the EU in April - May 2007 (compared to 46% a year ago). "On this matter, it is typical to see a difference in opinion between the newer Member States of the Union and those who have been Members for a longer period of time, with citizens of the former tending to be largely enthusiastic about further enlargement and feelings more mixed in citizens of the latter. This is again the case here, with average support running at 68% in the twelve new Member States and 43% in the former EU15 countries." (quote from Eurobarometer first results (pdf), p. 30 ff.)

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 39 

posted by julia 16 years ago
The ICEG European Center, an economic research institute specialised on Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe, publishes quarterly forecasts on the New Member States, on Southeast Europe and on the Hungarian economy and monthly reports on the economic developments in Southeast Europe (Southeast European Monitor). Amongst the last topics of the SEE Monitor: Stagnating Unemployment Challenges Macedonia; The current economic situation and the possible effects of parliamentary elections in Serbia; Montenegro and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 38 

posted by julia 16 years ago
The Policy Documentation Centre of the Central European University in Budapest is an archive of public policy material (reports, proposals, briefings) from central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Some new articles have been added from Western Balkan think tanks (Albanian Institute for International Studies, Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina, Analytica/Macedonia, Center for Liberal-Democratic Studies Serbia). You can subscribe to a newsletter which informs you about new publications.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 37 

posted by julia 16 years ago
The website of the Austrian Information Office of the Steering Platform on Research for Western Balkan Countries www.see-science.eu offers a lot of information for researchers from EU and EU (potential) candidate countries on workshops, online trainings etc. For example, researchers from the Western Balkans can take a free 1 hour online training course on the 7th EU Framework Programme (FP7). There is also a journal you can subscribe to. The last news concerns a public consultation on the EU Green Paper on "The European Research Area: New Perspectives". Read more on how to send in your comments to this Green Paper:

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 36 

posted by julia 16 years ago
In a recent paper on Kosovo (Kosovo: Die EU am Zug), Dusan Reljic from the German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik argues that the EU should take the lead in resolving the Kosovo status question. As the tension between the US and Russia does not seem to decrease, the EU should confirm the perspective of EU accession for the Western Balkans (including Kosovo and Serbia).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 35 

posted by julia 16 years ago
Three Western Balkans countries (Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia) and Turkey joined the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). They now have "associated status" which allows them to participate in all calls for proposals and compete on an equal footing with the EU Member States for research co-operation and support actions funded by FP7. Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected to join soon.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 34 

posted by julia 16 years ago
In a paper on "Implementing the Ahtisaari Proposal: The European Union’s Future Role in Kosovo", published by the Centre for Applied Policy Research (CAP) of Munich University, Dominik Tolksdorf analyses the challenges the EU will be facing in Kosovo, comparing the role of the EU in Kosovo to the EU's role in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Tolksdorf sees the "Ahtisaari model" as more efficient than the "Bosnian model", as Kosovar politicians (most of them representing the majority community) will probably assume more responsibilities and ownership of the process. Nevertheless, some "lessons learned" from BiH must be taken into account in Kosovo:

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 33 

posted by julia 16 years ago
EU Enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said yesterday - one day after the arrest of war crimes suspect Zdravko Tolimir at the border between Serbia and BiH (Republika Srpska) and a few days after the escape of war crimes prisoner Radovan Stankovic in BiH - that the EU would resume SAA talks with Serbia - probably in June: "On the basis of a very careful and extensive assessment, the [European Commission] can resume the negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement [with Serbia]." (cf. RFE/RL, Der Standard, Der Spiegel).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 32 

posted by julia 16 years ago
I just discovered an interesting project by the CAP (Centre for Applied Policy Research) in Munich: Captive States, Divided Societies on institution building in SEE, corruption, state failure, and nationalism. Click here for a summary of a recent conference (in German), here for a description of the project (in German), and here to read the studies published by the international project team (in English).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 31 

posted by julia 16 years ago
On 10-11 May the Stability Pact has decided its transformation into a "Regional Co-operation Council" which would be managed and "owned" by the Balkan countries - in close co-operation with the SEECP (SEE Co-operation Process) (read a comment by Verica Spasovska/DW-radio SEE). A conference on Regional Cooperation Challenges 2007/2008 organised in Sept. 2006 by the Südosteuropa Gesellschaft discussed this transformation process. Contributions to this conference can be downloaded here.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 30 

posted by julia 16 years ago
The leverage of the EU-accession perspective seems to work after all: after the discontent in EU circles after the election of ultra-radical Nikolic to the post of President of the Parliament (NZZ), Tadic, Kostunica and Dinkic (DS, DSS and G17) reached an agreement on Friday to form a democrat government (NZZ and Tagesspiegel). We should know more in some 24h - the deadline for forming a new government is on 15th May (midnight).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 29 

posted by julia 16 years ago
"We have no exit strategy, only an entry strategy," says Olli Rehn about the future EU presence in Kosovo... Here is a background article summing up the latest steps in Kosovo's progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) and the future steps towards EU integraion. For further information, cf. the EU website on the SAP.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 28 

posted by julia 17 years ago
Fourteen European countries members of the SEE-ERA.NET network including all Western Balkan countries have jointly published a Call for Proposals for Research and Thematic Network Projects as well as Summer Schools in/with the Western Balkan Region. Funding will be provided in the thematic areas "Environment", "Information and Communication Technologies", and "Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology".

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 27 

posted by julia 17 years ago
According to a study of the Austrian Society for EU Policy, only 41% of the Austrian population are for the EU accession of Bosnia-Herzegovina, 37% for the accession of Montenegro, 36% for the accession of Macedonia, 33% for the accession of Serbia (more or less like Ukraine), and only 18% for the accession of Albania...
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 Western Balkans and EU - Part 26 

posted by julia 17 years ago
In an interview on Croatia's integration into the EU, Franz-Lothar Altmann (SWP) sees Croatia as a "victim" of the scepticism within the EU, which was created by the discussion on corruption and crime in Bulgaria and Romania and by the debate on the EU-membership of Turkey. If Croatia had been ready for EU-integration earlier (e.g. by handing over Gotovina), it might have had better chances than now... Indeed, EU-Commission President Barroso suggested recently that the EU should not accept new members after Bulgaria and Romania until an agreement on a Constitutional Treaty was reached.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 25 

posted by julia 17 years ago
While Bosnia-Herzegovina is preparing for elections - under close supervision of the international community -, Serbia is still hunting for Mladic - also under close supervision of the international community - and threatening to boycott the Kosovo-talks because of Ahtisaari's statement that the Serbs were "guilty as a nation" - by the way, this quote has been spread by the Belgrade negotiating team - other sources say that he spoke of Serbia's past that had to be taken into account in the negotiations.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 24 

posted by julia 17 years ago
As of today, Finland replaces Austria as "EU President". According to the EU Observer, one of the main achievements of the Austrian presidency was to keep "the EU's eye focussed on the Western Balkans as future members of the bloc", e.g. by making enlargement the main topic in Salzburg in March (cf. this blog, 12.3.2006 and 13.3.2006).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 23 

posted by julia 17 years ago
Balkan countries aspiring to join the European Union must do more to help Roma, refugees and internally displaced - but assistance must be integrative and target the whole community, or risk isolating these impoverished and marginalized groups further, says a new report from UNDP: At Risk: Roma and the Displaced in Southeast Europe (pdf, 3.6 MB) presents for the first time a wealth of survey data on the situation of Roma, refugees and IDPs in SEE (click here for a summary of the report).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 22 

posted by julia 17 years ago
For those of you who read French, the French Economic Mission in Croatia edits a monthly digital newsletter: Balkans occidentaux, actualité économique et financière, to which you can subscribe for free by sending an email to zagreb@missioneco.org. For other free publications by the French economic missions around the world, click here.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 21 

posted by julia 17 years ago
On the map of failed states, drafted by the magazine Foreign Policy, all Western Balkan countries are marked in a yellow "warning colour", and Bosnia-Herzegovina is even marked in a darker yellow because of its high rate in the category of "external intervention".

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 20 

posted by julia 17 years ago
This week the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council decided that the Schengen short-term visa price would be raised from 35 to 60 euros as of January 1, 2007 (except for children under six, students, and researchers). The reasons for this higher price is the set up by the end of 2007 of a central visa information system (VIS) including biometric data (cf. EurActiv).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 19 

posted by julia 17 years ago
According to H. Riegler from the Austrian Institute for International Politics (OIIP), the debates on the EU enlargement towards South-Eastern Europe is too often mixed up with the discussion on the integration of Turkey on the one hand and with the discussion on the European constitution, the borders and values of the EU on the other hand (cf. an interview in Der Standard, 10.4.2006). She is optimistic, though, and thinks that Croatia could become an EU member very quickly as it fulfills most of the "technical" EU criteria. Croatia could then act as a motor for the integration of the other Western Balkan countries.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 18 

posted by julia 17 years ago
Back to the Balkans after one week of holidays... The Kosovo status negotiations are entering a more difficult phase, with the third round of talks showing openly the different points of view on decentralisation and on the financing of Kosovo-Serb municipalities. The closing of the Mitrovica-bridge after a young Kosovo-Serb was attacked (cf. dtt-net.com) also contributed to the tightening of the situation. Nevertheless, things are moving in Belgrade:

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 17 

posted by julia 18 years ago
I would like to come back to the distinction I mentioned yesterday between "privileged partnership" and "membership perspective" for the Western Balkans - a discussion which is rooted in the question of the borders of Europe/the EU.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 16 

posted by julia 18 years ago
Last week, just a few days after the Salzburg meeting (cf. this blog, 12.3.2006), German chancellor Angela Merkel suggested that a "privileged partnership" for the Western Balkans could be an alternative to full membership for the region (1). Germany seems to join the club of EU countries whose leaders think that the EU should first find an agreement on its institutions, goals, and borders (2), and only then think about enlargement. Although Merkel did not rule out full membership for the Western Balkans, her remark comes at a critical time:

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 15 

posted by julia 18 years ago
[The Salzburg meeting] was supposed to have been an opportunity to reaffirm the EU's commitment to the Western Balkan, countering growing anxiety in the region that its European prospects are slipping into the distant future. Even before the summit began, however, it was clear that this opportunity would be missed.

writes the European Stability Initiative about the latest informal summit of EU and Western Balkan foreign ministers (cf. the last entry of this blog). Click here to read the whole statement.


 Western Balkans and EU - Part 14 

posted by julia 18 years ago
"All [Western Balkans states] have in the last year made significant steps along their road towards the EU, with EU membership as ultimate goal. [...] The EU confirms that the future of the western Balkans lies in the European Union," reads the joint statement of the foreign ministers of the EU member states, the candidate countries (Turkey, Crotia, and FYROM), and the other Western Balkan countries (SaM, BiH, Albania), who gathered for an informal strategic meeting in Salzburg on Saturday, 11.3.2006.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 13 

posted by beni 18 years ago
Olli Rehn stellte zuletzt in einem Interview für die Presse betreffend Kosova und Serbien das Bild mit zwei nebeneinander laufenden Gleisen – doch beide Richtung EU - dar.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 12 

posted by julia 18 years ago
"There is no arguing that the Balkan countries are facing their most challenging year at precisely the moment when the EU does not seem thrilled about enlargement", writes M. Djilas in Transitions Online (1) (cf. also this blog, 1.3.2006). Indeed, 2006 will be a key year for the Western Balkans on their way towards the EU: Albania will sign its Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) in June 2006, SAA negotiations could be concluded with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro at the end of the year, the status of Kosovo will be defined by the end of the year, FYROM will get a decision on when to start EU accession talks in November or December, and Croatia will soon start accession negotiations.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 11 

posted by julia 18 years ago
From a marginal topic, the so-called "Western Balkans" are moving into the centre of attention of EU politics - despite a growing lack of support from the EU population for the integration of this region [1]. In the last few months, the EU Commission published three major documents related to the EU integration of the Western Balkans: progress reports on Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina (October-November 2005, cf. this blog, 12.11.2005); an enlargement strategy (9.11.2005); and a communication on The Western Balkans on the road to the EU: consolidating stability and raising prosperity (27.1.2006; press release). In mid-February, Commission President José Manuel Barroso undertook his first trip to the Western Balkans together with Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 10 

posted by beni 18 years ago
In 2003 the Austrian government launched the NODE research programme (New Orientations for Democracy in Europe). From 23-26 February 2006 the final international conference of the research project European Integration and its Effects on Minority Protection in the Western Balkan Countries took place in Graz. Some of the research papers and presentations can be found online. There you can also find my paper (in German) and my presentation (in English) on The Perception of the ‘Kosova issue’ regarding EU-Integration. I would like to emphasise once more that the link between ethnicity and territory cannot be used to overcome the conflicts in the Western Balkans - it is the problem itself of this European region on its road towards the EU.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 9 

posted by julia 18 years ago
The Deutsche Welle commentator Klaus Dahman underlines that the decision to recognise Macedonia as a candidate for EU accession gave a clear signal to those who do not accept the multiethnic state created by the Ohrid Agreement. Nevertheless, before setting a date for the beginning of negotiations with Macedonia, the EU has announced a debate on fundamental issues of its enlargement policy for June 2006. Such a debate can take time, argues Klaus Dahmann in his commentary...

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 8 

posted by julia 18 years ago
The "EU pulls itself back from the abyss", titles euractiv.com, referring to the budget compromise. Or maybe also to the future of the Western Balkans. The budget compromise (862 billion euro, less than the Commission and the Parliament had proposed, and less than the EU member states had first agreed in Luxemburg - cf. an info-graph of the FAZ) has opened the way to the candidate status of Macedonia (cf. the Trot-i-net blog, 17.12.2005).

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 7 

posted by julia 18 years ago
On Monday, the EU foreign ministers also agreed on the order of future EU presidencies for the coming 13 years (!). The presidencies of Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary will probably be the most focused on the Western Balkans. The Greek presidency in 2014 could be a good moment to sign the accession treaties of the Western Balkan states. During the last Greek Presidency in 2003 the EU was joined by 10 new members and the European Council adopted the Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans as well as a Joint Declaration between the EU and the Western Balkans countries at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki on June 21.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 6 

posted by julia 18 years ago
The EU foreign ministers who met in Brussel yesterday tried to clear the ground for the European Council meeting of EU heads of state and government on 15-16 December 2005 in order to have not too many issues to discuss besides the 2007-2013 budget (cf. this blog, 12.12.2005). Nevertheless, the heads of state and government will also have to re- discuss enlargement issues and especially the progress of Macedonia towards EU accession.

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 5 

posted by julia 18 years ago
The debate over the EU's 2007-2013 budget is closely followed by the Western Balkan countries. Transitions Online features a very complete background article on the implications of the budget talks for the Western Balkan countries. As the author of the article, Tim Judah, concludes, the way these talks are conducted shows again that the Western Balkans are more a passive aid recipient than an equal negotiation partner...

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 4 

posted by beni 18 years ago
Wie DW-RADIO/Fokus Ost-Südost am 28.11.2005 berichtete fand am vergangenen Wochenende in Berlin eine Tagung über die EU-Annäherung Südosteuropas statt. Fazit: „EU-Perspektive wichtig für Lösung der Kosovo-Frage.“

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 3 

posted by beni 18 years ago

 Western Balkans and EU - Part 2 

posted by julia 18 years ago
The EU is sending clear signs to the Western Balkans, political, but also economic ones: The EU member states agreed to extend the Western Balkans' duty-free trade access to EU markets for 5 more years (until the end of 2010).

 Western Balkans and EU 

posted by beni 18 years ago
The EU Commission presented progress reports for the two candidate countries – Croatia and Turkey – and for the potential candidate countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro as well as a separate progress report for Kosova (currently under the UN Security Council Resolution 1244).
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SEE-EU

This weblog is a forum for discussion on the political and social processes linked to EU integration in the Western Balkans. We would also like to use this space to create a virtual network of researchers on this topic. You are most welcome to contribute to this weblog with comments, postings, links, or photos. Please use the "add comment" function at the end of each posting!
All photos by the Photo Arts Collective of Kosovo. First photo by Burim Myftiu (Swimming olympiade in Klina). Second photo by Mimoza. Third photo by Dashmir Izairi.
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