EU's enlargement process towards Serbia: A Study on EU's interests in Serbia
Author
Sisodia, Seema
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2012
Submitted on
2012-05-31
Pages
50
Abstract
EU's udvidelsesproces handler om at optage nye medlemslande. Den bliver ofte beskrevet som en genforening af Europa og som en måde at støtte lande, der har været præget af ustabilitet og autoritært styre efter den kolde krig. I 1991-1996 underskrev flere central- og østeuropæiske lande associationsaftaler for at forbedre deres politiske og økonomiske forhold og komme nærmere et EU-medlemskab. Efter afslutningen på kommunismen prioriterede Serbien europæisk integration for at normalisere forholdet til Vesten. Landet har siden arbejdet med reformer for at opfylde EU's betingelser, især gennem Stabiliserings- og Associeringsprocessen (EU's ramme for Vestbalkan). Efter at være blevet anerkendt som potentiel kandidat opnåede Serbien kandidatstatus den 1. marts 2012, hvilket signalerede landets engagement i EU-sporet. EU's udvidelse ses ofte som et udenrigspolitisk redskab. Målet med udvidelsen mod Serbien er fred, økonomisk udvikling og stabilitet i Vestbalkan. På grund af Serbiens centrale placering kan ustabilitet i regionen få afsmittende effekter for EU, for eksempel i form af uorden, organiseret kriminalitet, irregulær migration og narkotikahandel. Derfor spiller Serbien en nøglerolle i EU's udvidelse mod Vestbalkan, både økonomisk og politisk. Dette speciale undersøger EU's udvidelsesproces i forhold til Serbien med fokus på, hvorfor EU ønsker at give Serbien medlemskab. Det vurderer, om et cost-benefit-forhold påvirker EU's intentioner med udvidelsen, set gennem et rationalistisk perspektiv, hvor aktører antages at veje omkostninger op mod gevinster. Emnet er aktuelt, fordi Serbien netop har opnået kandidatstatus, og det giver bedre indsigt i EU's motiver.
The EU's enlargement process is the way new countries join the Union. It is often described as a reunification of Europe and as a means to support countries transitioning from instability and authoritarian rule after the Cold War. Between 1991 and 1996, several Central and Eastern European countries signed Association Agreements to improve political and economic conditions and move closer to EU membership. After the end of communist rule, Serbia prioritized European integration to normalize relations with the West. It has pursued reforms to meet EU conditions, mainly through the Stabilization and Association Process (the EU's framework for the Western Balkans). After being recognized as a potential candidate, Serbia obtained EU candidate status on March 1, 2012, signaling its commitment to the EU path. EU enlargement is often viewed as a foreign policy tool. The goals for enlargement toward Serbia are peace, economic development, and stability in the Western Balkans. Because of Serbia's central position, instability in the region can spill over into the EU through disorder, organized crime, irregular migration, and drug trafficking. Serbia therefore plays a key role in the EU's enlargement to the Western Balkans, both economically and politically. This thesis examines the EU's enlargement toward Serbia, focusing on why the EU seeks to grant Serbia membership. It assesses whether a cost-benefit logic shapes the EU's intentions, using a rationalist perspective in which actors are assumed to weigh costs against gains. The topic is timely, given Serbia's recent candidate status, and offers insight into the EU's motives.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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