Western Balkans are tired of unfulfilled EU commitments

In 2019, Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia. It ended with the protracted former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which Eurovision presenters had to repeat constantly when the points in the singing competition fell.

The name change was a requirement for the country to begin negotiating to become a member of the European Union. The union wants disputes in the candidate countries to be resolved before negotiations begin. This is how North Macedonia and Greece managed to do so Resolve a 28-year name dispute.

Summer 2019 gathered Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto informed the leaders of the Western Balkans about this The Western Balkans are in the heart of Europe. And in March 2020, the same month that North Macedonia became a member of the military alliance NATO, the country, along with Albania, received the green light from EU countries to start negotiating membership.

No one saw a trace of those negotiations. The reason is that Turns out Bulgaria has views About what is called the language spoken in North Macedonia as well as interpretations of the countries’ history.

Other EU countries are trying to pressure Bulgaria to be more flexible, but in silence some, such as France, may be too happy with this approach.

Before a summit in Slovenia The division between the European Union and six countries in the Western Balkans became clear on Wednesday. The governments of Slovenia and Austria would like to have official data that the countries of the Western Balkans will be members of the European Union by 2030. More member states in the neighboring region will benefit their trade and economy.

In addition, more members are likely to put an end to talk of a deepening of the union, which is managed by France, among other countries.

But the majority of EU countries do not want to make commitments for years. Western Balkan countries have a long way to go in terms of judicial, administrative and other reforms to qualify for the UEFA League.

But the majority of EU countries do not want to make commitments for years. Western Balkan countries have a long way to go in terms of judicial, administrative and other reforms to qualify for the UEFA League.

– We want them in our own criteria, but not lower them, says an EU diplomat.

For the European Union as a group, it is Thus, a balanced work to maintain good political, social and economic contacts with the countries of the Western Balkans, without making too many promises and without pushing back the states. If the European Union is not in place, then Russia and Turkey, and in the economic sphere, China in particular, will be partners.

The EU countries confirmed in a draft summit statement, which was briefed on the DN party, that the union was ready to accept new members in the future. The Western Balkan countries, for their part, reaffirm their continued commitment to European principles and values. This means, among other things, fighting corruption and organized crime, defending basic rights, gender equality and a free media.

In the absence of obligations In terms of closer political cooperation, the EU will produce the wallet instead. An investment package equivalent to 300 billion Swedish kronor is ready for the next seven years. But the money is conditional on countries implementing economic and social reforms.

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen toured the Western Balkans to remember what the EU has to offer.

The question is how far beautiful words, peaks and financial commitments go. Residents who were promised a future in the European Union may turn elsewhere with disappointment. In the elections in Montenegro last year, for example, increased A party with Russia and against NATO.

Read more: Albania and North Macedonia can start negotiating EU membership