Selim Ibraimi- In the last four years, it has been a big risk for the Balkan states not to become part of the EU. Still, now with the union’s plans for financial assistance, the chances are high if the regional governments are well committed to the reforms. They can achieve this membership by 2030, despite the strengthening of right-wing political parties in the EU. However, it must be admitted that many questions remain open and unclear due to the internal issues of the EU, and the lack of will of the Balkan states themselves to move quickly with the appropriate reforms.
Despite the challenges that the EU is going through, it has opened the door compared to a decade ago when Brussels, after the admission of Slovenia and Croatia, almost closed its doors to others. The fault was not only in the EU, it was the chronic “disease” of the Balkan states in the field of human rights and justice that received bad points from the European Commission of the EU. The bad thing is that the Balkan governments have very little changed their attitude to improve the situation. There are some steps in the adoption of pro-European laws, but in practice, there is a lack of concrete actions in the fight against crime and corruption. The latest report of the European Commission on the Balkan countries 2024, did not differ much from the past reports, where in the same areas the report has marked little progress. As for the rule of law, there have been numerous reports not only from the EU but also from the US that have confirmed the same setbacks. While the regional authorities have been inattentive and ignorant in calling for the improvement of the field of independent justice. Government moves have also been unresponsive to the overall improvement of the justice system. Currently, we have a bad system that can hardly be improved and function like in the EU, because a bribe mentality has been installed in the system, a lack of respect for institutions, etc., etc. And as we know, no one has taken any responsibility from either side (political party) for the unfinished business. In general, there is no will to move forward with tough reforms. The lack of will to continue reforms and fulfill obligations has been seen in previous years with the same issues where governments and local institutions have not respected EU requirements.
In the Balkan situation where all political and ethnic issues have not been resolved, governments have always found a way to avoid the need for serious reforms and progress. Here again, the lack of progress and democratization, which is strongly linked to daily politics, can be taken as a case in point. Recent developments in the Balkans suggest that dealing with internal ethnic and interstate issues remains a priority for governments. The big ethnic games are at the head of the politicians, together with some radical organizations that have become part of the process of spreading the anti-EU spirit. Recently, such a wave of nationalism has risen especially in Serbia and North Macedonia. There is not a week in the region that does not pass without incidents or provocations. The radical actions have influenced that in recent months the desire for good neighborly relations in the Balkans has decreased, while the appetite for tensions and big speeches with chauvinist content has increased.
In the end, even the EU was not created in such an easy way. After World War II, all European countries agreed to build together an environment free of conflict and hatred. The EU took decades to heal. Something must also happen in the Balkans, but unfortunately, it is very difficult to create an atmosphere of cooperation with the current policies where foreign actors are integrated into the internal games. It remains to be hoped that the governments will become aware, and complete the reforms along with reducing the radical spirit for new tensions in the Balkans. If governments do not do more in the area of justice, and regional officials turn their heads to other autocratic societies, the future will lie nowhere and regression will prevail. Regional governments don’t have much time, as 2030 is just around the corner.
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