EU conditionality in the Western Balkans : implications for the rule of law

Abstract

The European Union’s (EU) conditionality has been criticised for its limited impact in the Western Balkans. Many of the political and financial incentives used in earlier enlargement rounds appear either ineffective or counterproductive in the region, despite formal commitments to EU integration. How can the EU’s conditionality mechanism be adapted to be more effective in contexts of state capture and external de-democratisation? In this panel, experts will discuss the key obstacles facing the EU in enhancing democracy and the rule of law in the Western Balkans and will propose avenues through which the Union’s accession conditions could have a greater impact on the transformation of countries locked in protracted political and economic transitions.