Due to fear of a possible political backlash in member states, the EU can no longer agree to give a guarantee of future membership to the 6 Balkan countries, reported Reuters, after citing 4 diplomats and an internal document.
The news comes before the EU summit that will be focused on the six countries of the Western Balkans – Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Hercegovina – that is set to take place on October 6, in Slovenia.
As part of the summit, the EU plans to reiterate its promise, made 18 years ago, giving “its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans,” cites Reuters based on the internal document which datës September 11.
EU members won’t make their positions known, however, rich western countries like Denmark, France and the Netherlands are concerned about a rushed accession like the one granted to Rumania and Bulgaria back in 2007, which prompted an ill-administered migration of workers from Eastern Europe into Britain that turned many Brits against the EU.
In addition, Bulgaria is against the membership of North Macedonia into the block, due to their historical dispute on language. China and Russia, on the other hand, are spreading their influence through lobbying and investments.
Diplomats say that the EU is indirectly escalating tensions in the area, seeing that the nations of the Western Balkans have been dreaming to enter the EU since the fall of Yugoslavia back in 1990.
In turn, the EU hasn’t kept its promise to Kosovo on lifting the visa regime and allowing free movement.
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