Over the previous few years, attitudes in the direction of accession to the European Union in Western Balkan candidate states have been more and more damaging. In international locations like Serbia, the need to hitch the union has slumped to 40 % from 57 % in 2014; in North Macedonia – to 68 % from 84 % in 2012.
Whereas frustration over the sluggish tempo of the method and varied challenges alongside the best way could also be one of many predominant drivers of this development, there’s one other, largely ignored one: elements of the civil society in these international locations, which largely identifies as pro-EU, have began to espouse what actually are anti-EU stances.
Certainly, there was an inexplicable alignment of views between proponents of democracy and European values and their ideological opponents – those that assist the authoritarian tendencies of Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić, North Macedonia’s Hristijan Mickovski and Albania’s Edi Rama.
This has taken place regularly and thru the promotion of seemingly impartial concepts, reminiscent of regional tasks of EU-like integration, the necessity for stability and respect for nationwide sovereignty, and criticism of anti-democratic forces inside the EU.
Over the previous decade, varied concepts about easy methods to strategy regional integration have circulated amongst civil society actors within the Western Balkans. Whereas there’s nothing flawed with proposing and endorsing such initiatives, a few of them have been pushed as a precedence over EU accession. Some have argued that regional integration must happen first to “put together” Western Balkan membership candidates to hitch the Union.
The issue with this argument is that regional integration turns into a justification for indefinitely delaying severe motion on EU accession. A living proof is the “Open Balkan” initiative launched in 2019 and championed by Vučić and Rama. Its declared purpose was the financial integration of Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, via elevated commerce, mobility of residents, improved entry to labour markets, and others.
Regardless of the hefty targets of “Open Balkans” and inspirational declarations made by the leaders concerned, little progress has been made on its implementation. Whereas some civil society actors have criticised the initiative, others have continued to push the regional integration mantra, failing to see the hazard it poses to delaying indefinitely EU accession and selling Eurosceptism among the many normal inhabitants.
One other concept that has crept into civil society within the Western Balkans is that the EU accession has led to inside divisions and instability and has infringed on the nationwide sovereignty of candidate international locations. This concept has been particularly common in North Macedonia the place the negotiating framework for accession has been perceived to harm the nationwide curiosity as a result of particular circumstances imposed by Bulgaria, relating to the Bulgarian minority within the nation.
This has led some public supporters of EU membership to name for “pausing” the accession course of till nationwide cohesion and stability are regained. Like regional integration, selling the concept candidate international locations have to “repair themselves” first implies that EU accession will probably be postponed indefinitely and is probably not pursued in any respect.
Lastly, there was the assertion that EU accession is pushed by or empowers anti-democratic forces. This will seem complicated to some, so let me illustrate. At a 2023 occasion held in Skopje which I attended, a assume tank researcher offered a research which emphasised that autocrats like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán need Western Balkan international locations to hitch the EU. The takeaway from this presentation was that since bogeyman Orbán needs us in – regardless of the truth that somebody like Germany’s Olaf Scholz needs us in too – we ought to be cautious about pursuing EU membership.
Others have argued in papers and at conferences I’ve attended that features of the EU enlargement course of itself encourages autocratic and anti-democratic tendencies. The implication is that accession ought to be delayed indefinitely supposedly within the title of democracy: “to not reward autocrats like Vučić”.
There has additionally been vocal criticism of the EU: that it’s “undemocratic” and “unprincipled” in its therapy of candidates. My most up-to-date media monitoring research of the area of Western Balkans reveals that this discourse coincides nearly completely with the pro-Kremlin narratives on the query of EU enlargement within the area.
This Euroscepticism creeping via the civil society within the Western Balkans could also be wrapped up in “pro-democracy” rhetoric however it’s basically the identical because the one espoused by leaders with autocratic tendencies in Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania.
The EU is just not an ideal organisation and there are respectable considerations and causes for criticism of its monitor report. Nevertheless, by espousing Eurosceptic rhetoric, calling for a “pause” in accession efforts, and spreading distrust inside most people in the direction of the EU, self-declared EU-philes are serving to forces that wish to see the Western Balkan enlargement sabotaged.
We have to be reasonable in regards to the present geopolitical atmosphere. The concept of absolute sovereignty – which excludes geopolitical alignment with the main regional powers – is a political unicorn. The concept of nonalignment collapsed with the dissolution of Yugoslavia, and its resurrection within the current circumstances is unlikely.
Nations like North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Albania face a geopolitical selection. The EU might have its issues, however with its constructions and organisation, it gives geopolitical stability – one thing that alignment with Russia and China doesn’t. This has turn out to be even clearer after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Taking place the Eurosceptic path presently is harmful. Pulling out of the accession course of would set a precedent that will be destabilising to the regional and continental geopolitical equilibrium. No marvel Turkey continues to be no less than formally an EU candidate nation. Civil society actors would do effectively to contemplate the risks of spreading “alternate options” to EU accession and undermining the general public’s perception that that is the suitable path.
The views expressed on this article are the creator’s personal and don’t essentially mirror Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.