Stepping up the beat: the reinvigoration of dialogue between the EU and the Balkans

Calvin Allen

doi:10.5771/1435-2869-2020-2-209

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- I–II Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis I–II
- 143–144 Editorial 143–144
- 145–164 Bosnia and Herzegovina’s eroding Dayton constitutional order Jasmin Mujanović Jasmin Mujanović 145–164
- 165–186 Twenty five years of the Dayton Agreement: peace project or difficult journey towards a functional state Fatima Fazlić Fatima Fazlić 165–186
- 187–208 Deconsolidation and de-democratisation: Current western Balkans experience of the transition Christophe Solioz Christophe Solioz 187–208
- 209–232 Stepping up the beat: the reinvigoration of dialogue between the EU and the Balkans Calvin Allen Calvin Allen 209–232
- 233–244 Inequalities and political populism: The case of Bulgaria Lyuboslav Kostov Lyuboslav Kostov 233–244
- 245–266 The dynamics of class mobilisations: evidence from protest event analysis in Bulgaria and Slovenia Ivaylo Dinev Ivaylo Dinev 245–266
- 267–284 State and policy failure concerning refugees in Bulgaria: Dynamics, trends and paradoxes Ildiko Otova Ildiko Otova 267–284
- 285–286 About the Authors 285–286
Durchsuchen Sie das Werk
Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein
Access

SEER Journal for Labour and Social Affairs in Eastern Europe , page 209 - 232

Stepping up the beat: the reinvigoration of dialogue between the EU and the Balkans

Autoren

Calvin Allen

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/1435-2869-2020-2-209
- ISSN: 1435-2869
- ISSN online: 2942-3384
Abstract

This article examines the European Commission’s 2020 Enlargement Package and the 2020 country reports for its partners in the western Balkans and Turkey. We focus on the social policy aspects of how the Commission assesses progress and what it regards as priority among the outstanding issues. The Commission is once again talking about ‘enlargement’ rather than the western Balkans’ ‘EU perspective’, but the reports indicate that the gap not only remains sizable, but growing; and the longer that this has continued, the less credible the process has become. It continues to be true that the region could do more to help itself - even allowing for the impact on policy-making of the Covid-19 pandemic - and the level of regional co-operation currently exists at a rather low level. Furthermore, that parts of the region talk openly of alternative avenues for their future remains a source of worry. However, the documentation lays down - at least on the surface - a worthwhile challenge, as well as a test for all parties, regarding aspirations and the extent of political goodwill which is key to the whole enlargement/accession process.
Share