Enlargement policy has never been stable. There have always been ups and downs, periods when it played a more or less important role, periods when it needed to be strengthened and periods when it needed to be kept in check. We are now in a new dynamic of enlargement policy due to several important factors.
First, the war in Ukraine. After the Russian aggression, it became clear howEuropean Union was moved (or personally involved?) and had to look for alternative solutions in order not to lose balance in foreign policy. And the solution was: enlargement policy.
Now it’s pretty clear that with 27 member states and twenty seven different foreign policy, As a global player, the European Union has a structural problem. He is unable to give one only answer he will always give several; That’s how it works, mainly because in foreign policy at European level you vote with theUnanimity. We therefore give in to the blackmail of states that want to preserve their sovereignty in the area of foreign policy.
In the case of Ukraine, however, they managed to put this practice aside and convince each other that leaving that state was too big a challenge. And so it gave me new impetus enlargement policy too long forgotten and abandoned.
Ukraine has made it possible to tackle the problem that has been hidden for too long: the problem European Union reforms, the internal change that is necessary in order to be able to welcome new members. He revived a policy that intervened stand by.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether I Balkans You will be ready to take on this new challenge. But as far as can be observed, it is North Macedonia (with its constitutional amendments imposed and eventually accepted by Bulgaria) and theAlbania I’m really on the right track.
At this point, a spontaneous (in my opinion fundamental) question arises: Will it be possible not to forget the Balkans and not put them on the back burner, but to counter this dynamic by putting Ukraine side by side with them? Is it possible to avoid two processes running in parallel, one faster and one slower? Only if this is possible can we avoid mistakes and avoid further alienation of the Balkan countries, which already today, after decades (and more) of attempts, are trying to adapt to the European Union resentment for these differences in treatment.
In my view, dealing with enlargement through secession of Ukraine is (justified) Moldova And Georgia (unjustified, in my opinion, given their level of utter unpreparedness, level of corruption and tragic economic situation) and Balkans (which has been awaited for decades) risks not only fueling further frustration in the Balkans, but also leaving that region under heavy influence Russia.
And the Balkans are our neighbors. We don’t want to risk it. In addition, some countries deserve progress on their way: Albania and North Macedonia are negotiating about it Montenegro also the Kosovo It has implemented many reforms and would be the only non-candidate country to have the right to receive it (although this would require the European Union to lift the sanctions imposed on the country, even if Serbia were granted them).
Ukraine can only help the Balkans if member states understand that there is a problemopportunities for them too. It’s a political matter. It would be a wonderful gesture if at least one Balkan country joined alongside Ukraine. It would give hope for the future of our neighbors and give a boost to the entire Balkan region. As well as strengthening the European Union.
Born in Trento, graduated in political science from the University of Innsbruck, I have two masters in European studies (Freie Universität Berlin and College of Europe Natolin) with a specialization in European history and a thesis on war crimes and coming to terms with the past in Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina. My passion is the Balkans and especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, where I lived for six months and also learned Bosnian.
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Federica Wolk