WHAT PROSPECTS OF EU MEMBERSHIP FOR THE WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES IN THE MIDST OF THE CURRENT REFUGEE-MIGRATION CRISIS
Corresponding author:
[email protected]
Accepted
28 March 2026
Available Online
15 September 2017
Abstract
CONDITIONALITY IS A COMMONLY USED TOOL BY THE EU ON TARGET COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO PURSUE THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRATI ZATION, MARKET ECONOMY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. THE CURRENT ARTICLE IS AIMED AT ANALYZING THE EU’S CONDITIONALITY PRINCIPLE TOWARDS THE WESTERN BALKANS COUNTRIES FROM AN UNUSUAL ANGLE, BY ASSESSING SERBIA’S AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA’S LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IN THE JOINT MANAGEMENT OF THE CURRENT MIGRATION CRISIS, PRINCIPLE WHICH IS IMPORTANT IN THE EVALUATION OF THEIR PERFORMANCE CONCERNING THE PROSPECT OF A FUTUR E MEMBERSHIP. THE AUTHOR WISHES TO EXPOUND THREE PATTERNS OF EU CONDITIONALITY, I.E. THE POSITIVE -, THE NEGATIVE AND FINALLY THE COMPLIANCE CONDITIONALITY, BY UNDERTAKING A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S PROGRESS REPORTS ON SERBIA AND MA CEDONIA IN 2015, RESPECTIVELY 2016, EXAMINING THEIR PERFORMANCE DURING THE MIGRATION IMPASSE. BRIEFLY SHALL BE DISCLOSED ALSO THE ASSISTANCE GIVEN BY THE EU TO THESE COUNTRIES, WONDERING WHETHER EXISTED A COHERENT RESPONSE ON THE EU LEVEL OR A FRAGMENTED A PPROACH ON THE LEVEL OF MEMBER STATES. THE RATIONAL CHOICE PARADIGM HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE THEORETICAL PILLAR OF THE STUDY, AS IT ARGUES THAT POLITICAL LEADERS ARE RATIONAL POLICYMAKERS, WHO BASED ON A THOROUGH COST -BENEFIT ANALYSIS WILL TRY TO MAKE THE BEST FOREIGN POLICY DECISIONS POSSIBLE. THIS IMPLEMENTED IN THE REALM OF THE WESTERN BALKANS STATES STRESSES THAT IT IS IN THEIR INTEREST TO COMPLY WITH THE EU’S
Keywords
RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL
EU MEMBERSHIP
BALKAN BAROMETER
ASYLUM
VISA
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