9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum: A clear need for a realistic final date for EU membership

By Andrej Zorko*

The 9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum 2023 was held in a year full of significant milestones for the EU, notably the 50th anniversary of the first enlargement. Since the foundation of the European Community, seven enlargements have taken place, helping the EU to grow to the present number of 27 Member States.

During the time after the last enlargement in 2013, with Croatia being the last country to join the Union, a growing awareness on both sides has confirmed that the future of Western Balkans lies with the EU, especially now in the face of current global events.

As the EESC noted in its 2021 opinion, the Western Balkans are an integral part of Europe and a geostrategic priority for the EU.

The experience of each successive EU enlargement has shown the importance of involving social partners and civil society organisations, recognising their significant role. In the case of the Western Balkan countries, civil society has been promoting the shared European values of peace, security, economic and social prosperity, as well as the need for reforms for a successful enlargement process.

There is undoubtedly still much to be done in the field of promoting sustainable development, the rule of law, transparency and fight against corruption. There is still a strong need to solve the problems that affect the younger population. The inclusion of the mentioned stakeholders in the integration process is sure to provide the solutions and policies that will have a high degree of legitimacy and effectiveness and will provide a smoother transition to full EU membership for the Western Balkan countries. For this reason, all the actors must ensure that the involvement of the region in the EU’s existing programmes and the reforms being carried out have a meaningful impact on the quality of people’s lives.

Being aware of many challenges still awaiting stakeholders on the path to accession, it is important to also recognise that much has already been accomplished and that the Final Declaration[2] of the 9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum reaffirms the clear commitment of civil society and the EESC to a common European future. The Declaration’s call for a clear and realistic timeline, in which the region should be ready for accession is a welcome driver in the process. As the EESC has already pointed out, it is also important to set out clear and strict conditions in a tangible way, so that the countries of the region can make progress on the path of reform and progress can be effectively monitored.

The inclusion of representatives of the trade unions, employers’ organisations, and civil society organisations of the candidate countries in the work of the EESC in an advisory capacity, has been met with strong approval by all parties. This will not only improve the work of the EESC in taking into account the views of soon-to-be Member State stakeholders, but will also spread first-hand knowledge of the inner workings and processes of social dialogue at EU level across the Western Balkan region, which will speed up the accession process.

The 9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum and its Final Declaration can be considered a success and a stepping stone towards the region successfully joining the EU. There is a clear need for a realistic timeline and a date on which the candidate countries should be ready for accession. A final date would provide a further impetus on the path of integration for both the EU and the governments of the regions to implement the necessary reforms.

Even a possible staged accession is a solution to the concerns of some Western Balkan states which are sceptical about 2030 as a target date, announced by the president of the European Parliament at the Bled Strategic Forum.

Despite the challenges still to come, and despite the scepticism of some, there is no doubt that the 8th enlargement of the EU is closer than ever. There is also a clear recognition on all sides, about the crucial role the social partners and civil society organisations can play in the process. Setting a target date, which should be realistic for all sides, is essential.

There is still some way to go in addressing the problems of young people in the Western Balkans and implementing the necessary policies to meet the Copenhagen criteria of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and respect for minorities, but with the strong commitments and inclusion of all stakeholders, perhaps the end of that path is finally in sight.

*Andrej Zorko, EESC member, President of the Follow-up Committee on Western Balkans

Executive secretary to the presidency of the Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS)