“Mini Schengen” – Western Balkans’ Embrace of the Market

Author: Tanja Porčnik, 20. November, 2019
French President Emmanuel Macron’s spearheaded opposition to block European Union accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia during the European Council’s recent meeting in October. By doing so, he is not only dangerously and severely undermining the credibility of the EU accession process. He is also indicating to the non-EU countries in the Western Balkans and elsewhere that their future lies solely in their hands, as that they cannot rely on the European Union to support them in their efforts to strengthen institutions, reform public policies and further liberalize economies.

As shocking this political development has been for many, the Western Balkans should not waste any sleep over what outgoing European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker sees as a “major historic mistake”.

Read the rest at the source: IREF – Institute for Research in Economics and Fiscal Issues

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