The European Union Politics in the Western Balkans

The Western Balkans is a politically, economically, and socially diverse region. It has severe structural development problems that are common in all parts of the region: visible signs of half a century of the socialist Yugoslav system followed by the loss of an entire decade in wars, sanctions, and the displacement of populations. The international factor and in particular the European Union , NATO and the United States were involved in the Western Balkans, motivated by security interests and an increase of their prestige, and have set as their goal the creation of long-lasting stability, peace, and prosperity. The European Union policy towards the region is based on the Stabilisation and Association Process launched in 1999, which has been successful in transforming Central and Eastern Europe. The purpose of the Stabilisation and Association Process is to bring peace, stability, and economic development in the region, and to open the perspective of integration in the European Union. Since the Thessaloniki Summit in June 2003, all Western Balkan countries have been confirmed as “potential candidates” for membership in the European Union. In order to facilitate the fulfillment of required criteria by the Western Balkan countries, the Council of Europe gathered in Thessaloniki in June 2003 and decided to create the so-called “European Partnership” instrument. This instrument seeks to identify the priorities of individual countries in meeting the membership criteria. Currently the Western Balkans is in the stabilisation stage with a peace process that is becoming stronger. The road towards integration in the Euro-Atlantic structures is within reach for the countries of the region, however, several challenges exist.My previous surname was Shabani. I changed it recently