Re:Balkan countries may have to accede to the EU en bloc to avert growing bi-lateral tensions I think it's rather unlikely that anything like this is possible. While a few years ago, it would have been possible to talk of all the balkan countries acceding ogether, now the Croatian accession is too advanced, and that of the other countries too varied, to contemplate binding them together. Besides, there is something very unfair about preventing contries that have strived to meet the copenhagen criteria and implement the acquis from joining, while waiting for laggad countries to catch up.Rather, I would prefer to see each balkan country pre-agreeing the accession of all the other Balkan countries before finalising their own accession.In this way, the asymmetry of power between member states and third countries is avoided, and outstanding issues can be settled before the unfortunate slovenian situation can arise again.
I think it's rather unlikely that anything like this is possible. While a few years ago, it would have been possible to talk of all the balkan countries acceding ogether, now the Croatian accession is too advanced, and that of the other countries too varied, to contemplate binding them together. Besides, there is something very unfair about preventing contries that have strived to meet the copenhagen criteria and implement the acquis from joining, while waiting for laggad countries to catch up.Rather, I would prefer to see each balkan country pre-agreeing the accession of all the other Balkan countries before finalising their own accession.In this way, the asymmetry of power between member states and third countries is avoided, and outstanding issues can be settled before the unfortunate slovenian situation can arise again.
Re:Balkan countries may have to accede to the EU en bloc to avert growing bi-lateral tensions Agree. But the EU membership will take time, maybe one generation, maybe two...
Agree. But the EU membership will take time, maybe one generation, maybe two...
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