The EU Coping with the Western Balkan Stabilitocracies

Doi: https://doi.org/10.58603/NAVJ7701

Abstract: The paper aims to explore and assess the EU capacities in ensuring stability in the Western Balkans. The six Western Balkan countries: Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo, are widely considered as stabilitocracies in their positions and relations to the main actors promoting democracy, liberalism, peace and stability in the region. Among the priorities in the region set by the international community is the stability of the region, often putting other important priorities down into the list of priorities. Among the main actors promoting those values in the region is the EU. However, taking into account the observable outcomes considerable challenges to stability remain. Despite the fact that the EU largely acts in the region in a form of partnership with the USA, the paper aims to study only the EU’s capacities to deliver and ensure stability, democracy, and integration of the region in the EU while trying to get along with stabilitocracies. The study will add further to the enlargement policy, through exploring the prospect of the EU to promote and ensure stability, which is considered necessary for inclusion of the region in the EU.