Western Balkans Face EU Integration Challenges

The Western Balkans are grappling with democratic decline, reform stagnation, and significant emigration of educated youth. Despite the Berlin Process aiming to boost EU integration, accession remains sluggish. The EU is criticized for applying double standards, as the region struggles to meet the Copenhagen criteria. CEFTA, the free trade agreement, has yielded minimal economic progress due to similar economic structures within the region.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shifted focus to the Balkans to limit Russian influence. Serbia, perceived as increasingly authoritarian, recently secured a lithium deal with Germany, raising concerns over conditionality. Ulf Brunnbauer suggests new accession models, advocating for gradual integration and market access before full EU membership. He also proposes the simultaneous accession of all six Balkan states, contingent on Serbia recognizing Kosovo. These proposals aim to enhance stability and integration while addressing geopolitical concerns, including the influence of Russia and China in the region. The EU faces internal reform needs, with potential membership discussions slated for 2030.