EU Enlargement and the Development of the Western Balkans

The major challenges of Western Balkan countries are mostly evident through their long and bumpy road towards economic, social and human development. Recent indicators show that many economic and social aspects in these countries are under the threat of backsliding instead of the providing evidence of progress (World Bank, 2015). The political discourse of two and a half decades without proper dialogue between progressive stakeholders and decision-makers has resulted in a deficiency of clear development strategies. In the hesitant sense of where to go further other than fulfilling the EU requirements, these countries seem to be abandoning the need to develop for the well-being of people. The consequences are already visible, and urgent actions are needed. Consequently, this research tends to examine where the Western Balkan countries stand in development beyond the delayed and painstaking EU integration process. By following a qualitative research method based on questionnaires, the aim of this study is to see current achievements in development and identify how progress can be reaffirmed in order to assure economic, social and human development