THE CONSIDERABLE CHALLENGES FACING WEST BALKAN COUNTRIES ON THE PATH TO EU MEMBERSHIP

Analysis Progress Report of the Western Balkans for 2012

Abstract

In this paper, the author points to the underlying determinants of foreign policy orientations and strate- gies of the Western Balkans countries. In connection with the stated-owned, it focuses on a comparative analysis of the report of the European Commission on the progress of the Western Balkans for the year 2012 on the path to EU of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. In this context, the paper concludes that all Western Balkan countries opting for membership in the European Union and NATO (with the exception of Serbia in NATO), the promotion of regional cooperation and the intensificati- on of the role of these countries in the Western Balkans in the global and regional international organizations is of great significance. The author points to the relationship between the Western Balkan countries in relation to the European Union, their commitment to this process and greater neighborly cooperation, as one of the most essential conditions for the fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria for full membership of the EU. On this occasi- on, as the author concludes, most countries of the Western Balkans has chosen to fulfill? the required criteria and conditions for joining the EU and NATO, but also to strengthen the partnership with the United States. But the author clearly states that it is evident that one of the countries of the Western Balkans is hard to separate from some so-called acquired historical rights at the expense of full-fledged membership in the EU, the other for internal political problems can not get to consensus to fulfill the criteria when it comes to reforms in the country, the third group remained prisoner of the elevated idea of one ethnic group over another. For all these country's failures to meet the required conditions and standards indirectly affect the stagnation of countries towards the EU. Every country’s designation on the path to EU and NATO are built into their constitutions and documents for foreign policy priorities but the countries are working contrary to their commitments. Particular emphasis is placed on issues related to regional cooperation and good neighborly relations in the process of EU enlargement, according to a report by the European Commission's enlargement strategy and key challenges.