The European Commission presented, on Wednesday 8 November, its enlargement package. Although progress has been made in most of the countries of the Western Balkans, a significant number of reforms still need to be carried out in the region. The Commission also recommended opening accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina once “the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria” is achieved.
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commission praised the efforts made by the country, where a new government was swiftly put in place after the elections and which had been granted EU candidate country status in 2022. However, the Commission’s report indicates that Sarajevo will not be able to relax its efforts and will have to adopt reforms concerning the Rule of law, the judicial system, as well as constitutional and electoral reforms.
In addition, the Commission is concerned about “secessionist” measures within Republika Srpska, which it says are “not in line” with the EU path. On 7 September, the President of the Serbian entity, Milorad Dodik, announced that he had ordered the police to arrest and expel the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, if he tried to enter the entity’s territory (see EUROPE 13246/20). At the end of June, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska adopted a law stating that the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina are no longer applicable within the political entity (see EUROPE 13212/28).
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9gd
Montenegro. Although presented by a senior European official as “the most technically advanced country” for EU membership, the Commission’s report stresses that progress on EU accession reforms has “largely stalled”. The Commission states that Podgorica has suffered from “deep polarisation” and “political instability” in recent years, and that future accession negotiations will depend on reforms in the area of Rule of law (Chapters 23 and 24).
To date, 33 chapters of negotiations for EU membership have been opened, and three have been provisionally closed. “Five years is not unrealistic to imagine all the chapters being closed”, said a senior European official.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9gf
Kosovo. In Pristina, too, reforms will have to be carried out, particularly on the action plan on justice reforms. At the same time, the slow and complex process of normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia continues to weigh heavily on progress towards EU membership (see EUROPE 13283/14). The Commission’s report again stresses the importance of implementing the obligations of past agreements – Brussels in 2013 and Ohrid in 2023 (see EUROPE 13131/12) – and of implementing the Association of Serb municipalities in the north of the country. Visa liberalisation for Kosovo will come into force on the 1st of January.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9ge
Serbia. The Commission says that Belgrade will still need to implement a number of measures to make progress towards accession and align itself with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including restrictive measures and statements on Russia. “Further work and political commitment are also needed to implement reforms in the area of Rule of law”, the Commission notes as well.
In addition, Belgrade will have to start implementing its respective binding obligations in order to normalise relations with Pristina. Serbia will also have to cooperate and take the necessary steps “to ensure accountability for the violent attack on Kosovo Police of 24 September and the attack on KFOR on 29 May” (see EUROPE 13281/2). To date, 22 of the 35 chapters of EU accession negotiations have been opened. Two have been closed and the Commission considers that Serbia has “technically fulfilled the benchmarks for opening cluster 3”, relating to competitiveness and inclusive growth.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9gh
North Macedonia. “North Macedonia needs to deliver on the implementation of EU related reforms, including in the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organised crime, public administration reform, including management of public finances, and public procurement”, stresses the European Commission. For its part, Skopje has committed to launch the “relevant” constitutional changes, with a view to include citizens who are part of other people.
The Commission has already presented to the EU Council the screening reports on the ‘fundamentals cluster’ – such as justice or fundamental rights. It now hopes for a swift follow-up on the issue with a view to opening negotiations on this aspect “by the end of the year”.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9gg
Albania. As in the case for North Macedonia, the Commission has also presented the EU Council with the screening reports for Albania concerning the ‘fundamentals cluster’, and hopes that negotiations on these issues can be opened by the end of the year.
Tirana, which has continued its alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, will need to work further on freedom of expression, minority issues and property rights, as well as in key areas of the Rule of law, such as the fight against corruption and organised crime.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/9gb
Six billion euro growth plan for the region for the period 2024-2027
Alongside the enlargement package, the Commission has also adopted its Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (see EUROPE 13282/2). Announced by the President of the European Commission on 16 October, the €6 billion package for the period 2024-2027 is intended to bring the countries of the Western Balkans closer to the European Single Market, increase the region’s integration into the European economy, accelerate “fundamental” reforms with a view to EU membership, and to increase pre-accession funds (see EUROPE 13272/16).
Each partner in the Western Balkans will be invited to prepare a reform programme based on the existing recommendations. This programme will be subject to consultation, evaluation and adoption by the Commission.
The Commission specifies that the new financial instrument will consist of €2 billion in grants and €4 billion in the form of concessional loans, payment of which will be conditional on the implementation of socio-economic and fundamental reforms. “Payments will only be made once the agreed reforms have been implemented”, summarises the Commission.
If the payment conditions are not met, the Commission may suspend or deduct part of the sum. The countries of the Western Balkans will have one to two years to meet the conditions, failing which the amount will be redistributed to the other states in the region in subsequent years.
To see the document: https://aeur.eu/f/9gi (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)