Comparative Balkans Politics

Since the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the European sum total (EU) in 2007, South east European countries - but more than so countries of the westward Balkans - are increasingly showing an vehemence to join the EU. The most novel accession of Croatia to the EU on 1 of July 2013 has further escalate the desire of the other(a) western Balkan countries to become members of the European family.\nYet, a closer examination of this bad-tempered region of Europe discloses hitting heterogeneity, be it culturally, politically or economically. Such differences between the westbound Balkan countries arrests generalizations about their European integrating prospects very hard to make and conclusions even harder to reach. Croatia stands alone as the only successful westward Balkan country to have acceded the EU thus far. Serbia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia2 are EU medical prognosis countries and on the commission to EU membership. Albania, B osnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, on the other hand, are potential prospect countries facing significant hurdle on their road towards effective integration to the EU.\nHowever, in outrage of the striking distinctions between countries in the region, the European Union has adoptive a conditionality policy orient toward the future integration of the built-in region to the EU. Linking this region to Western Europe is arguably a desired goal of two parties. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze the challenges and obstacles that the Western Balkan countries await regarding EU integration. In commit to do so the premier(prenominal) part give commission on the policy of EU conditionality in the Western Balkans. The atomic number 42 part will adjudicate the progress towards integration. Countries will be analyzed in groups harmonize to the European Unions categorization in members states, candidate states and potential candidate states. Croatia will not be examined present given that now it is a member of the EU. Serbia, Montenegro and ...