EUs enlargement process exemplifies the accession of new member states by the EU. It is characterized as a reunification of Europe to help weak countries that suffered from political instability and security in Europe during the Soviet burden. During 1991-1996 all the CEE candidate state countries had signed the Association Agreements for the reason to improve the countries’ political and economical welfare in order to come closer an EU membership. Serbia’s progress towards the EU took radically steps forward after the fall of the communist regime and Serbia as a post-communist state realized the necessity to come closer EU in order to be on good terms with the West. Serbia announced European integration as one of the head priorities on strategies of the Republic. Since then Serbia has worked with implementing reforms and achieve conditionalities on the basis of EU’s structures, mainly the Stabilization and Association Process. After receiving potential candidate status for EU membership by the Thessaloniki Agreement in 2009, Serbia proved this year on March the 1st 2012 that the country is serious with the EU membership.

EUs enlargement process is often considered as EUs foreign policy tool. The main objectives of the EU with the enlargement towards Serbia are peace, economy, stability and development of the Western Balkan region. Because of Serbia’s central position in Europe, instability in the Balkans could cause the threat of a dangerous spillover effect to the EU in the form of disorder, organized crime, mass immigration, drugs. Therefore Serbia has a key role for the EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans especially from an economic and political viewpoint.

This thesis deals with EUs enlargement process towards Serbia with emphasis on examining why EU wants to grant membership to Serbia. It seeks to examine whether the outcome of the relation between costs and benefits has an impact on EUs intention with enlargement. By exploring EUs enlargement from the eyes of the rationalists I will try to examine if the theory is supported by my empirical findings. Since Serbia just received their candidate status this year, the subject is of great interests as it is a current topic and gives a better understanding over EUs intentions with the enlargement.





Keywords: Enlargement, European Union, costs/benefits, Serbia, regional cooperation