French Group to Host EU-Balkans Colloquium

The workshop comes on the heels of the EU enlargement commissioner’s first visit to the Western Balkans, as well as a recent meeting of regional leaders in Slovenia, and it will be held just a few days before the EU-Western Balkans high level summit in Sarajevo.

During his trip to the Balkans, Stefan Fuele, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, reiterated his commitment “to firmly anchor the Western Balkans region in the European Perspective.”

Among his main priorities, he listed the completion of the network of Stabilisation and Association Agreements, the continuation of visa liberalisation, the conclusion of Croatia’s accession process and the preparation of opinions on the membership applications from Montenegro and Albania. 2010 is therefore a crucial year for the Western Balkans.

However, many in the Balkans believe that enlargement is no longer a priority for European Union (EU) member states. The recent Brdo summit, during which Balkan leaders exhorted the EU to keep the enlargement process on track, is the most recent illustration of such pessimism. The global economic crisis, enlargement fatigue and the prospects for the European External Action Service (EEAS) are currently major issues for the EU, and may shift the bloc’s focus away from the Balkan region.

Needless to say, further efforts are also awaited from the Balkan leaders themselves. The rule of law, fight against corruption and organised crime, the need for good and sustainable neighbourhood relations and the strengthening of regional cooperation remain among the main challenges ahead. Yet, the lack of political willingness and decisive leadership from some leaders to implement consistent reforms still hinders the prospect of EU membership.

The upcoming workshop will focus on some of the abovementioned questions related to the political and economic integration of the Western Balkans into the EU, including the compatibility of the EU´s conditionality and strategy in the region. In other words, are the existing instruments and financial assistance mechanisms effective enough? Are there any alternative measures and approaches to be considered in order to accelerate the development of these countries?

Given the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on the Balkan economies, the colloquium will also focus on the role that can be played by economic actors in the accession process. How can the business environment in general contribute to the acceleration of the adoption and implementation of economic reforms which comply with EU standards? How can Balkan companies assist their states in reviving their economies?

The project is initiated by six current and former students of the Institute of Political Sciences of Paris (SciencesPo), of different nationalities (Albanian, Croatian, French, Serbian and Swiss). It aims to bring together prominent experts and policymakers from the Balkans and the European Union and foster a true exchange of ideas and political positions on the issue.

Throughout the discussions, the participants will be invited to submit thorough and practical propositions addressing the socioeconomic and political issues in the region. Organised just a few days before the EU-Western Balkans high level meeting in Sarajevo, the event hopes to serve as a basis for decision-making both in the Balkans and the EU.

The workshop is supported by Balkan Insight as the main media partner and by the European Commission, Sciences Po Paris, the Regional Council of Burgundy, the City of Dijon and Le Monde.

It follows the success of two previous colloquiums on the main challenges arising from Kosovo’s independence and on issues related to the stabilization process of the Balkans.