A panel of experts, including the Prime Ministers of Albania and Montenegro, as well as the UK's Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, was brought together to explore the state of play in EU-Western Balkans relations.
Ahead of the Berlin Process Summit on 22 October, Dr Andi Hoxhaj OBE, Lecturer in Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law, brought together an expert panel of Prime Ministers from the Western Balkans at Chatham House to examine how the promise of EU accession for the Western Balkans can be realised, what challenges stand in the way, and the future of UK-Western Balkans relations.
Progress towards European Union accession for Western Balkan states has been uneven over the past two decades. Although steps have been made towards democratic governance and economic development, concerns around corruption, the rule of law and political instability in the region has delayed accession.
Sharing their expert opinions and the perspectives of their respective countries, the panel comprised of:
- Chair: Nina dos Santos, broadcaster and journalist
- Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of Europe, North America and Overseas Territories
- Dr Andi Hoxhaj OBE, Director, European Law LLM Pathway programme and Lecturer in Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law
- Edi Rama, Prime Minister, Republic of Albania
- Natalie Sabanadze, Senior Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme
- Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro
The panel explored the state of play in EU-Western Balkans relations, the political will within Brussels and other European capitals to expand, and the capacity of the region to undertake the significant reforms required for accession. The speakers assessed whether enlargement of the EU remains a realistic goal, or whether alternative frameworks for integration may emerge.
The EU should consider granting candidate states the opportunity to access the Single Market prior to full accession. This phased approach would facilitate a gradual process of integration, allowing candidate countries to adapt to EU laws and regulations while simultaneously improving their social and economic conditions. This approach would help maintain the momentum toward eventual membership and promote regional stability.The UK, as a non-EU member, should aim to expand its engagement with the Western Balkans beyond issues of migration and organised crime. It is crucial to establish long-term, multidimensional partnerships based on shared values such as human rights, the rule of law, and sustainable development. This approach would foster deeper cooperation with the region and help shift internal UK discourse and perceptions of the Western Balkans towards a more constructive and collaborative relationship.
Dr Andi Hoxhaj OBE, Director, European Law LLM Pathway programme and Lecturer in Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law
Dr Hoxhaj also hosted a separate, off-the-record, high-level roundtable at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, Members of the House of Commons, senior policymakers, academics including Professor Paul James Cardwell, Vice Dean Education at The Dickson Poon School of Law, civil society, and media. The discussion focused on the main security and defence challenges facing the Western Balkans, with particular attention to threats from malign actors.
Participants discussed how the region could evolve from being security consumers to becoming proactive contributors to European security and defence.
You can watch the recording of the Chatham House panel on their website and YouTube.
The events were supported by the King's College London ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, grant no ES/X004384/1.
