The role of the berlin process in preparing for the accession of the Western Balkans to the European Union (2014–2021)

Abstract

The article discusses the initiative of the German leadership to bring the socio-economic and political systems of the countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro) in line with the Copenhagen criteria for their accession to the European Union. The main tool for the implementation of this initiative was the so-called Berlin Process — a series of annual summits held since 2014, attended by both the countries of the “Balkan six”, as well as representatives of leading European states and offi cials from the European Commission. The Berlin
process, which has a consultative nature, has allowed to intensify the process of the Western Balkans’ accession to the EU, which has essentially been frozen since 2003, thereby supporting the hopes of supporters of further European integration. Th e negotiation format contributed to the development of a number of joint programs aimed at solving regional (unresolved territorial disputes of the former Yugoslav republics), international (terrorism, extremism, migration crisis), socio-economic (fi ght against corruption, destroyed infrastructure) and legal (bringing the legislation of the Western Balkan countries in line
with European legal norms) problems. Th e wide range and promptness of the discussion of the issues considered at the Berlin Process summits help to establish a dialogue between the participating countries. Initiated by Germany, bypassing the fi ve-year moratorium on the entry of new members imposed by the European Commission in 2014, the Berlin process has not yet allowed the necessary consensus to be reached on the entry of the “Balkan six” of all EU member states, although it is moving it forward.