New EU Enlargement Methodology Or Much Ado About Nothing

European Commision

The new EU enlargement methodology should enable a more dynamic and credible process, but it is still unclear what everything will look like in practice and whether it would yield the expected results, it was stated in the analysis "New EU enlargement methodology. Is it sufficient to pull Western Balkans forward?"

At the time when the EU is attempting to emerge stronger from the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, not a lot seems to be happening regarding enlargement – negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania have not started, while Serbia and Montenegro are neither moving forward, nor have they received the guidelines about how to proceed within the new EU enlargement methodology.

The analysis, performed within the THINK BALKANS mechanism, indicates the challenges for the Commission, the Council and the countries in the negotiation process in the implementation of the new methodology, and provides recommendations aimed at restoring "the transformative power of the negotiation process and avoid a complete politicization of the accession process."

In the part of the analysis titled "Implementation of the new enlargement methodology on Montenegro and Serbia: Much Ado About Nothing?" it is stated that Montenegro was currently attempting to fulfill 83 transitional standards for chapters 23 and 24 (45 for Chapter 23 and 38 for Chapter 24) and Serbia a total of 98 transitional standards, 48 for Chapter 23 and 50 for Chapter 24. On the other hand, the Commission has at its disposal the balance clause, which enables it to block a country's opening of new chapters before it makes sufficient progress in reforms in chapters 23 and 24 (rule of law).