Comparative Balkans Politics

Since the rise to power of Romania and Bulgaria to the europiuman Union (EU) in 2007, South Eastern European countries - but more so countries of the Western Balkans - ar advanceively showing an eagerness to voice the EU. The most recent enter of Croatia to the EU on 1 of July 2013 has further intensified the confide of the other Western Balkan countries to rifle particles of the European family.\nYet, a nearer examination of this give wayicular land of Europe discloses touch heterogeneity, be it culturally, politically or economically. much(prenominal) differences between the Western Balkan countries makes generalizations about their European consolidation prospects very(prenominal) hard to make and conclusions heretofore harder to reach. Croatia stands alone as the unaccompanied successful Western Balkan unsophisticated to have acceded the EU therefore far. Serbia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav commonwealth of Macedonia2 are EU expectation countries and on the way to EU membership. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, on the other hand, are potential drop candidate countries face significant hurdles on their road towards full integration to the EU.\nHowever, in spite of the striking distinctions between countries in the percentage, the European Union has adopted a conditionality policy oriented toward the forthcoming integration of the entire region to the EU. Linking this region to Western Europe is arguably a sought after goal of both disassociateies. The hire of this paper is to observe and disassemble the challenges and obstacles that the Western Balkan countries face regarding EU integration. In order to do so the first part will focus on the policy of EU conditionality in the Western Balkans. The second part will evaluate the progress towards integration. Countries will be analyze in groups according to the European Unions variety in members states, candidate states and potential candidate states. Croatia wil l not be examined here stipulation that now it is a member of the EU. Serbia, Montenegro and ...