"European Union enlargement and the Balkans" [2003] ELECD 28; in Tumpel-Gugerell, Gertrude; Mooslechner, Peter (eds), "Economic Convergence and Divergence in Europe" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2003)

Book Title: Economic Convergence and Divergence in Europe

Editor(s): Tumpel-Gugerell, Gertrude; Mooslechner, Peter

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781843762416

Section: Chapter 22

Section Title: European Union enlargement and the Balkans

Number of pages: 22

Extract:

22. European Union enlargement and
the Balkans
Vladimir Gligorov

22.1. INTRODUCTION

The enlargement process for Eastern and South-Eastern Europe has been
designed as one of guided convergence of countries in transition that are
already partially or potentially integrated with the European Union (EU).1
To judge whether a country can be fully integrated into the EU, one must
judge whether it has satisfied a number of conditions that are either neces-
sary or sufficient, or something in between. One is that a country is European,
which is not just a geographical criterion but a value criterion, too; that is,
the country should share with the EU the same set of fundamental values
(whatever those might be). Another condition is that there is, actually or
potentially, an economic integration, that is, that the EU is or is going to be
the predominant economic (for example, trade) partner of the country in
question.2 The third condition is the country's political integration, which
means that the potential EU member either has developed or is developing
political and social institutions that are to be found in the EU (democracy,
rule of law, civil society, and the like).3 The actual enlargement can be nego-
tiated at some point when it is judged that the conditions have been ade-
quately met and that the process of convergence is on track and is irreversible.
Thus, there are essentially two issues to discuss. One is the interplay of
these conditions in the process ...