First brief in the “IEP Policy Briefs on Enlargement and Neighbourhood” series published
Kick-off for a new publication series: In collaboration with the Kolleg-Forschergruppe “The Transformative Power of Europe,” the IEP will be publishing a number of policy briefs dealing with the role of the EU in the transformation processes in Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus and the Mediterranean in the course of this year.
The first policy brief by Anne Bercio and Dr. Katrin Böttger (both IEP) looks at the reasons for the lack of progress in the Western Balkans. In the cases of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the authors reflect on EU-induced reasons as well as country-specific deficits in the approximation process. Possible solutions recommended to counter stagnation or even deterioration are focused on the situation on the ground and an increase of the EU’s own credibility by giving clear timetables and applying consistent criteria in the evaluation of the progress.
The IEP Policy Briefs will put special emphasis on EU engagement to date, as well as on the possibilities of exercise of influence on political change in the future. The briefs offer concrete recommendations to politicians and practitioners taking into account the domestic circumstances.