Financial Times: Dangers in the Balkans if EU holds door closed

The EU should not give up the Balkans, and unfulfilled membership promises could weaken the moderate and reformist currents in the region, writes the Financial Times.

According to the newspaper, The EU can make a historic mistake in the Balkans, as EU leaders at the June summit must decide on accession negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia. The decision should be unanimous, but some countries -- France and the Netherlands -- hesitate in the next phase of the Union's enlargement.

France wants the EU to focus on its reforms, strengthening the euro area and avoiding measures that could strengthen nationalist and populist currents. However, this can turn against The EU, which considers the Balkans to be under control, believes the Financial Times, broadcasts Day.

The British newspaper cites an example of resolving a dispute between northern Macedonia and Greece, with which Skopje has indicated that it abandons its predecessor's ultranationalistism.

The people of Northern Macedonia may wonder whether the EU will open its doors if bold diplomacy and diligent management of national dimensions of the name dispute are not rewarded with accession negotiations, the paper writes.

Such a delay would delay reforms in northern Macedonia, damage the fight against corruption and organised crime, which could also revive Macedonian chauvinism, the paper estimates.

“If the EU door remains closed, moderate currents can be discredited, but there is a danger that the door will be open for northern Macedonia and Albania will remain to wait. Such an initiative will cast oil into the fire in all-Albanian nationalism”, writes FT and adds that there may be danger of a revival of the idea of a “Albania is a big”.

In a further analysis, the British daily considers such a scenario would further undermine efforts to resolve the issue between Belgrade and Pristina and intensify tensions between Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“If regional instability gets worse by EU fears, then a suitable ground for foreign intervention“will be established, the Financial Times writes, citing the influence of Russia, Turkey and China.

Those who criticise EU enlargement are right when they say that in Balkan countries the quality of democracy and rule of law is lower than EU norms. But the region's trust in the EU and its people's enthusiasm for the difficult reforms needed for membership will be reduced unless the EU sends a positive signal at the summit in June, the British newspaper adds.