The Challenges and Prospects of the Development and Modernisation of the Western Balkan Countries in the Process of European Integration

Dimitrijević, Duško (2025) The Challenges and Prospects of the Development and Modernisation of the Western Balkan Countries in the Process of European Integration. In: European Security Order, Integration and Modernisation - Perspectives and Challenges in the Central and Eastern European Region. China–CEE Institute, Budapest, Hungary, pp. 327-367. ISBN 978-615-02-2788-7

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Abstract

After the meeting of the leaders of the Member States of the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans in Thessaloniki in 2003, the Western Balkan states were included in the EU’s accession strategy, which envisages concluding a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the six candidate countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo.1 At the same time, this document projects the development of mutual economic ties through the introduction of autonomous trade measures with the aim of opening the EU market. For this purpose, the EU was ready to provide non-reimbursable financial assistance. The prerequisite was the harmonisation of national legislation with the acquis communautaire and systemic preparation for the use of structural European funds. In the implementation of the aforementioned strategy, the development of good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation was of particular importance, and in the interests of this the EU launched a number of different initiatives – from the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe to the Berlin Process to the European Political Community. A particularly significant Common Regional Market Action Plan was initiated within the Berlin Process. Its goals are based on four fundamental freedoms: the freedoms of movement of people, goods, services and capital, as well as the creation of regional digital, investment, industrial and innovation spaces. Essentially, all EU initiatives adopted so far have the purpose of preserving and advancing the democratic future and prosperity of the countries of the Western Balkans through the revitalisation of their industries and the achievement of sustainable economic growth. However, the achievement of the stated goals has been significantly retarded by the fluctuating methodology of the accession negotiations and the fulfilment of the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, which conditions the process of European integration according to the overall stabilisation of political conditions in the region.

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