Trieste Summit, Balkan EU accession still far away

11/07/2017 00:00

Everyone speaks about economic projects before the meeting, but
accession seems far, since reforms are not being implemented and the EU
has its own internal problems.

The known Thessaloniki Promise, “Future of Western Balkan will be in the European Union” was for Eric Gordy, from the London University College, a tactical way to preserve the EU influence in the region. But it doesn’t seem effective any longer, according to him.

The voices against enlargement are always stronger, that’s why Brussels needs to offer a realistic perspective, Gordy says.

A lower western influence in Balkan makes happy Russia, Turkey, China and others from the Arabic peninsula.

The disagreements of Prishtina with Belgrade and the problems between Macedonia and Greece, due to the name, and also the lack of consensus in Bosnia between the three ethnic groups, have made experts that either Balkan will be forever at the waiting room, or the EU will open the door before the criteria are met.

Deutsche Welle mentioned also a Marshall Plan for Balkan. Now there are also talks about a customs union and a joint market between the six countries. A few months ago there were talks about a “Berlin Plus” plan, a German initiative to fund large infrastructure projects with EU money.

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