EU and Western Balkan Countries

Tubić, Bojan (2025) EU and Western Balkan Countries. LAW IDENTITY AND VALUES, 5 (2). pp. 191-213. ISSN 2786-2542

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Abstract

The integration of the Western Balkan countries into the European Union is a key element of the EU’s enlargement policy and a strategic priority for regional stability, economic development and democratic consolidation. Despite varying degrees of progress, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia continue to pursue EU membership as a path to institutional reform and socio-economic progress. While reaffirming its commitment to enlargement, the EU has linked eligibility for membership to comprehensive reforms in governance, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption. However, the accession process has been slow and complex, influenced both by internal political dynamics within the candidate countries and by growing enlargement fatigue among EU member states. This paper examines the current state of EU-Western Balkans relations, the challenges and opportunities facing the accession process, and the geopolitical implications of further EU enlargement to the region. A successful enlargement would not only integrate the Western Balkans into the EU’s political and economic framework but also strengthen the Union’s strategic presence in Southeastern Europe in the face of increasing global competition.

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