/thinktank/en Think Tank - The documents that help shape new EU legislation EN © European Union, 2025 - EP Sun, 11 May 2025 12:20:33 GMT /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2025)769552 The six countries that make up the region known as the Western Balkans differ in terms of size, population, economy, energy mix and energy import dependency. At the same time, they share common elements because of their geographical proximity, and – in some cases – common policies adopted in the past. An example is their ageing infrastructure dating back to the 1970s, which was damaged during the conflicts in former Yugoslavia. Another common element (except for Albania) is their reliance on solid fossil fuels (mainly coal), and their dependency on imports of fossil fuels. The EU is the leading trade partner for the countries of the Western Balkans and an important investor in the region. In addition, it is the largest provider of financial assistance to the region, supporting the six countries' development and reforms, as well as its transition towards sustainable energy, with financial and technical assistance. The EU provides assistance through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, the Western Balkans Investment Framework and the European Investment Bank. While the EU has an important role in the region, Russia and China are major players, too. Russia has been active for decades in the Western Balkans, while China has started engaging more recently. Their strategy also differs, with Russia more focused on exporting its fossil fuels to the region, and China investing through its Belt and Road Initiative. Nonetheless, such involvement creates dependencies, which could hamper these countries' integration into the EU – from both a political and an energy/economic perspective – as well as the functioning of the EU itself. In this context, experts have noted what steps the EU and the countries in the region could take to lessen these dependencies, while enhancing the Western Balkan countries' energy security and helping them take the necessary steps towards the green transition. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2025 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT EPRS_BRI(2025)769552_EN_20250324 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2024)760435 The Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans has been designed to support internal reforms in the Western Balkan countries, by providing certain benefits of EU membership even before EU accession. The Facility will provide up to €6 billion over the 2024-2027 period. ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is scheduled to vote on the agreed text, resulting from interinstitutional negotiations, during its April II 2024 plenary session. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2024 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:45:02 GMT EPRS_ATA(2024)760435_EN_20240416 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2024)760412 In 2003, at the Thessaloniki Summit, the European Council set out its determination to fully support the EU perspective of the Western Balkan countries. However, in the context of relatively limited progress in implementing reforms needed to align with the EU, none have joined since Croatia's accession in 2013, since when the region has been confronted by 'enlargement fatigue' and increasing Russian and Chinese interference. Responding to these challenges, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who took office in November 2019, defined a new EU external policy strategy as a tool that 'stabilises its neighbourhood and accelerates enlargement'. Several political initiatives followed, to accelerate the Western Balkans' EU integration. These have included the reformed enlargement policy, endorsed in February 2020, adopting the third Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) programme, for 2021-2027, with an allocation of over €14 billion, and the latest proposal of the Reform and Growth Facility (the Facility) (€6 billion) under the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Together, IPA III funds and the Facility will constitute the main financing instruments for the region, helping to increase socio-economic convergence with the EU. President von der Leyen said that the Facility 'could double the economy of the Western Balkans in the next 10 years'. The Facility is a tangible result of the new 'gradual integration approach' endorsed by the European Council in June 2022. It aims to provide benefits of EU membership, even before accession to the EU, particularly through participation in the 'four freedoms' of goods, capital, services and people. The proposal for the Facility of 8 November 2023 links fulfilment of reform commitments with access to funding, incentivising reforms while allowing the Western Balkans to benefit from key areas of the single market. The Facility is set to complement the IPA III thematic allocation approach, by focusing on the specific determinants of social and economic growth. ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ supports the enlargement policy as a strategic investment for peace and security. It has endorsed recent enlargement policy reforms, including a gradual approach. ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is scheduled to hold a debate and vote on the legislative resolution on the Facility for the Western Balkans during its second April 2024 plenary session. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2024 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_BRI(2024)760412_EN_20240408 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)745670 This infographic showcases major economic indicators for the six Western Balkan (WB) countries that are at various stages on the path towards the EU. All six exhibit a relatively consistent rise in GDP per capita, and they also show similar trends in falling unemployment rates. The female labour force participation rate hovers around 50 % (except for Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, with lower rates), similar to the EU. EU trade in goods (imports and exports) with the Western Balkans has risen steadily since 2006, whereas trade in services has experienced slower growth. The EU has almost equal imports and exports of services from the WB states, while in terms of goods the EU’s exports have continually exceeded imports, by roughly 30 % in 2021. Serbia leads the EU’s trade with the Western Balkans, holding 50 % of goods and 44 % of services trade respectively. This paper updates previous individual publications for each of the six countries. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2023 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2023)745670_EN_20230427 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)747096 The Western Balkan countries have emerged as a frontline in Russia's geopolitical confrontation with the West. While the Russian Federation has strong historical ties with the Western Balkans, and holds a certain soft-power attraction for the region, its influence and economic impact there are declining. Meanwhile, the EU and NATO presence in the region is advancing, and investment and aid from the EU-27 and other players, such as China, have been dwarfing Russian investment. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has put the Western Balkans on the spot again, pushing their governments to take a clear stance towards their historical ally, while the EU has tried to give new impetus to the enlargement process and has reinforced its presence in the region. While polls show considerable support for EU membership across the Western Balkans, a large majority of Serbian citizens in particular continue to consider Russia to be their true ally, despite the EU being Serbia's major financial supporter. The legacy of the Yugoslav Wars − a complex political architecture with precarious balances between fractious ethnic and religious communities − has proved fertile ground for the Kremlin's influence and interference, especially since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia has used the media and information sphere, stepped up its political and economic influence and mobilised proxy organisations to project its narratives, protect its interests and slow the region's integration into Western institutions. This briefing updates and expands on a publication from June 2022. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2023 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Mon, 17 Apr 2023 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_BRI(2023)747096_EN_20230418 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)739343 The revised enlargement methodology adopted in February 2020, and a new 'gradual approach' endorsed by the European Council in June 2022, are at the heart of EU accession negotiations with the Western Balkan countries and those countries' accession-related reforms. As the region's six countries differ in population size, political systems and history, their reform agenda and accession tempo also vary. With a budget of €14.2 billion for 2021 2027, the EU Instrument for pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) supports investment and reform in accession countries. The European Commission and the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ closely monitor candidates' overall progress and their implementation of the EU acquis. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2023 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Thu, 09 Feb 2023 23:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2023)739343_EN_20230210 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)739209 The European Political Community (EPC) is a new 'platform for political coordination' (European Council) initially proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. The Presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have both also supported such a proposal. The inaugural meeting of the EPC was held in Prague on 6 October. The 'EU+ summit' was hosted by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU and attended by 43 national delegations from the EU-27, Western Balkans and other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Turkey. According to Charles Michel, the EPC aims to go 'beyond enlargement' and will steer political dialogue and coordination, mainly on security issues, with like-minded countries, those that have an ambition to join the EU and those that do not. The EPC can be seen in the light of the ambition for a 'geopolitical Commission' that 'stabilises its neighbourhood, accelerates enlargement and champions multilateralism'. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 22 Nov 2022 23:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2022)739209_EN_20221123 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)738221 The European Peace Facility (EPF), operational since July 2021, finances activities with military implications, and supports the armies of partner countries and EU Member States with infrastructure, training and equipment. Reacting to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for the first time in its history the EU has now mobilised funds for the delivery by Member States of military equipment, including lethal weaponry, to assist a partner country. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Wed, 16 Nov 2022 23:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2022)738221_EN_20221117 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)738205 Although European integration of the Western Balkans and Türkiye is still at a standstill, the war in Ukraine and the challenging geopolitical environment have lent new impetus to the enlargement process, in an attempt to secure its continuity, consistency, credibility and impact. In June 2022, EU leaders endorsed the 'European perspective' of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The Western Balkan countries' prospect of a European future had meanwhile already been endorsed at summits in Thessaloniki (in 2003) and, more recently, in Sofia (2018), Zagreb (2020), Brdo (2021) and Brussels (2022). ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is expected to debate a report on the new EU strategy for enlargement during its November 2022 plenary session. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 15 Nov 2022 23:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2022)738205_EN_20221116 /thinktank/en/document/EXPO_BRI(2022)639326 This briefing follows up the commitments made by the commissioner since 2019. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Mon, 19 Sep 2022 22:00:00 GMT EXPO_BRI(2022)639326_EN_20220920 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)730344 'This is Europe' – an initiative proposed by the President of the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾, Roberta Metsola – consists of a series of debates with EU leaders to discuss their visions for the future of the European Union. On 22 June, the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, was the third EU leader to address the ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ since its Conference of Presidents endorsed the initiative on 28 April. Mr Plenković considered Croatia to be at the centre of EU integration and expressed his support for more shared competences in the area of health cooperation as well as for EU enlargement to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the Western Balkans, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Mon, 27 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2022)730344_EN_20220628 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)733558 The six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,* Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) are all countries with substantial economic catch-up potential. The EU-led Berlin Process estimated an annual investment need of some €7.7 billion, which would provide the region with an additional 1 % GDP growth and a positive employment effect of up to 200 000 people. However, quality investments are scarce, or often attached to political, environmental and social conditionalities; China took the initiative to benefit from this opportunity. According to the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), China invested €32 billion in the region in 2009-2021. In Serbia alone, Chinese investment reached €10.3 billion. However, despite inflows of Chinese capital, the EU remains the leading economic partner, with 70 % of total foreign direct investment and 81 % of exports. China has endeavoured to portray itself as a strategic investor, who does not intervene in internal political affairs and is willing to close its eyes to some aspects such as State aid, corruption or labour laws. An early focus on transport infrastructure (through Piraeus and Belgrade to reach Duisburg) has expanded to industry, energy and communications/IT. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) serves as the main framework for expanding China's economic presence in the region and enables it to access key land and maritime routes. Loans and investments in undertakings further enhance China's position and create dependencies, even debt-traps, for the six Western Balkan states. An increasing number of Balkan countries now perceive the limits of China's presence, and are concerned regarding public procurement, environmental protection, human rights violations, and promotion of the authoritarian model, which all limit cooperation and impact EU accession prospects. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Thu, 23 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_BRI(2022)733558_EN_20220624 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)730338 On 23 June 2022, for the first time since the start of Russia's war on Ukraine, the Heads of State or Government of the EU and of the six Western Balkan countries will meet for a leaders' meeting in Brussels. The discussion will focus on enlargement, energy, security and defence, and youth. Discussion of Emmanuel Macron's 'European Political Community' proposal is not on the agenda, but it could come up during the debate. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2022)730338_EN_20220622 /thinktank/en/document/EXPO_IDA(2022)639327 This in-depth analysis provides an overview of alignment of EU enlargement countries with EU sanctions against Russia due to its aggression against Ukraine. It analyses the legal and political basis for the alignment with the EU’s Common and Foreign Policy, including the restrictive measures (sanctions). Furthermore, it provides a factual account of the main steps taken by the countries covered by the EU enlargement policy in the Western Balkans and Turkey (Türkiye), coupled by a brief assessment of the main reasons for their policies. Lastly, policy options for the EU and for its parliamentary dimension are laid out. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Wed, 13 Jul 2022 22:00:00 GMT EXPO_IDA(2022)639327_EN_20220620 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)733523 The countries in the Western Balkans are traditionally a focus of Russian interests. The Russian Federation has strong historical ties with the Western Balkans and holds a relative soft-power attraction for them, yet its influence and economic impact in the region are declining, as investment and aid by the EU-27 and other players, such as China, have been dwarfing Russian investment. This ‘At a glance’ note has been produced at the request of a member of the European Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ and Committee. It updates a publication by Martin Russell from July 2017. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2022)733523_EN_20220608 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)733522 Decentralisation, and implementation of the principle of subsidiarity, are at the heart of both EU accession negotiations with the Western Balkan countries and their accession-related reforms. As the region's six countries differ in population size, territory and history, their decentralisation models differ from each other as well. The European Commission and the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ are closely monitoring these countries' overall progress in multi-level governance and in the implementation of the EU acquis on an annual basis. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2022)733522_EN_20220608 /thinktank/en/document/EXPO_STU(2022)702561 This study provides Members of the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ and other interested stakeholders with an independent evaluation of the likely economic, social and environmental impacts from the 10 Flagship projects of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans (EIP), adopted by the European Commission on 6 October 2020. On the basis of a tailor-made methodology, the EIP projects’ impact is assessed according to their relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, as well as their synergies and coherence with the wider aims of the EIP and EU enlargement policy. The study identifies the novel aspects of these Flagship projects and considers lessons learned from previous EU and international assistance. Finally, the study evaluates the projects’ overall economic, social and environmental impacts as well as their transversal implications in the Western Balkans. In the concluding section, potential obstacles to successful implementation are identified and some recommendations are proposed on ways to improve the EIP’s developmental impact, thereby ensuring effective strategic guidance and scrutiny by the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2022 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 22:00:00 GMT EXPO_STU(2022)702561_EN_20220531 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2021)698838 Unequivocal support for the European perspective of Western Balkan countries was reiterated by participants at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brdo on 6 October 2021, as well as in the European Commission's October 2021 enlargement package reports. Nevertheless, the Commission insists that all countries in the region need to continue to accelerate and deepen reforms on independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and the fight against transnational organised crime. Progress on the rule of law is part of the ‘fundamentals’, that remain open throughout accession negotiations, as it is considered essential and will determine the overall pace of the negotiations. International cooperation, such as agreements and joint actions with Europol, Eurojust, and Frontex are crucial as well. ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ is set to vote during the December 2021 plenary session on an own-initiative report on cooperation in the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2021 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 07 Dec 2021 23:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2021)698838_EN_20211208 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2021)694230 The EU leaders met on 5 October 2021 in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, to discuss informally the Union's role in the world over a working dinner. The meeting was coupled with an EU-Western Balkan Summit the next day. The focus at the dinner was on security and defence in the context of the 'Strategic Compass' process, to be finalised by March 2022, with EU leaders agreeing to continue deepening defence cooperation, not least by strengthening the alliance with NATO. The leaders also confirmed their 2019-2024 strategic agenda commitment to strengthen the EU's capacity to 'act autonomously', albeit without agreeing on the modalities. Building unity was central to this preparatory summit. Migration and energy were also raised briefly, but will be addressed in greater detail at future meetings. The EU-Western Balkans Summit on 6 October highlighted the strategic importance of the region for the Union. The focus was on the common commitment to socio-economic recovery and the development of the Western Balkans in the post-pandemic phase, with €30 billion mobilised for investment as part of the economic and investment plan for the Western Balkans. EU leaders also focused on ways to strengthen political dialogue and security cooperation. The 'Brdo Declaration' reaffirmed the region's European perspective and the EU's commitment to enlargement, with the caveats of 'credible reforms', 'rigorous conditionality' and that the assessment of individual countries' progress on the basis of the 'principle of own merits'. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2021 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 12 Oct 2021 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_BRI(2021)694230_EN_20211013 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2021)690598 The coronavirus pandemic has accentuated the call for global solidarity and increased the need for health care and social support in the Western Balkans. The EU's response has included the 'Team Europe' facility, but also specific initiatives for the Western Balkans. In addition to the EU co-funded Covax facility, the most recent proposal by the European Commission and Austria, announced in April 2021, confirmed the delivery of some 651 000 vaccines to the region, where the EU is competing with other global actors, such as Russia and China. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2021 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Sun, 09 May 2021 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2021)690598_EN_20210510 /thinktank/en/document/EXPO_STU(2020)653621 Disinformation is an endemic and ubiquitous part of politics throughout the Western Balkans, without exception. A mapping of the disinformation and counter-disinformation landscapes in the region in the period from 2018 through 2020 reveals three key disinformation challenges: external challenges to EU credibility; disinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the impact of disinformation on elections and referenda. While foreign actors feature prominently – chiefly Russia, but also China, Turkey, and other countries in and near the region – the bulk of disinformation in the Western Balkans is produced and disseminated by domestic actors for domestic purposes. Further, disinformation (and information disorder more broadly) is a symptom of social and political disorder, rather than the cause. As a result, the European Union should focus on the role that it can play in bolstering the quality of democracy and governance in the Western Balkans, as the most powerful potential bulwark against disinformation. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2021 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Wed, 02 Dec 2020 23:00:00 GMT EXPO_STU(2020)653621_EN_20210223 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2020)654192 At the special European Council meeting of 1-2 October 2020, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, presented a new Leaders’ Agenda outlining his view of ‘the key challenges confronting the Union’ and setting a timetable for the Heads of State or Government to address these issues at meetings between October 2020 and June 2021. The new Leaders’ Agenda puts strong focus on the ‘green transition and digital transformation’, as well as on ‘Europe’s role in the world’, two core priorities in the EU Strategic Agenda 2019-24. Mr Michel intends to structure the approach to external relations discussions, notably through a series of strategic debates on relations with key partners. A number of EU priority topics are however missing, notably migration, the rule of law and the Conference on the Future of Europe. Mr Michel has, however, stated that the Leaders’ Agenda is a flexible tool, which can be updated as circumstances require. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2020 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Sun, 04 Oct 2020 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_ATA(2020)654192_EN_20201005 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2020)642819 The European Council to endorse the 24 March 2020 Council political agreement on the opening of negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2020 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 22:00:00 GMT EPRS_BRI(2020)642819_EN_20200402 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_IDA(2020)649334 This publication describes the link between energy security and the EU's external policy. The EU imports most of its energy, and its biggest supplier is Russia, a country with very different foreign policy goals to the EU's. Energy is a key aspect of the EU's external relations, not only with energy suppliers such as Russia, but also with neighbouring transit countries. Alongside internal measures to integrate European markets, energy diplomacy is a central part of the EU's efforts to address energy insecurity. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2020 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Fri, 13 Mar 2020 09:37:33 GMT EPRS_IDA(2020)649334_EN_20200313 /thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2020)649332 The Thessaloniki Summit (2003) opened the door to a European future for the Western Balkans. However, since then progress towards EU membership has been slow. The countries of the region have struggled to implement economic and political reforms, and the rule of law remains particularly problematic. The 2018 Enlargement Strategy for the Western Balkans gave new impetus to the enlargement policy, offering the six countries of the region a 'credible strategy' through enhanced EU engagement and indicating 2025 as a possible accession date. In June 2019, and again in October 2019, the Council postponed the decision to open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, despite the positive recommendation from the European Commission and the agreement of the European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾. By delaying this decision, the European Union was sending an ambiguous message to the region, reducing its credibility and potentially fuelling nationalistic rhetoric, whilst opening the door to the influence of third-country powers, in particular China and Russia. These problems have sparked a debate which has led to a fundamental re-think of the EU's enlargement policy. In February 2020, European Enlargement Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, announced a revised methodology. The new approach aims to strengthen the process. It improves tools to push reforms forward, notably in the areas of the rule of law and the economy. It makes the accession negotiations more credible, more predictable, more dynamic and guided by a stronger political steer. The candidate countries need to deliver on the reforms they promised and the EU needs to deliver when they do so. The criteria will be made clearer and more concise on what is required. Dynamism also means that related issues will be negotiated together in clusters. This can speed up the process. However, if there is backtracking, the process can go backwards with chapters reopened and the level of negotiations scaled back. The Commission's new proposals also envisage further integration of Western Balkan countries into EU policies, programmes and markets, which would deliver some of the benefits of EU membership even before accession. These proposed changes, together with the updated report of the Commission on Albania and North Macedonia pave the way for a decision of the Council, on opening accession negotiations with these two countries, before the EU-Western Balkans summit, to be held in May 2020 in Zagreb, Croatia. <br /> <br /> Source : <a href="/portal/en/legal-notice" >© European Union, 2020 - EP</a> Documents - Think Tank - European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ Tue, 10 Mar 2020 23:00:00 GMT EPRS_BRI(2020)649332_EN_20200311