институт за европска политика скопје

The EU as a promoter of democracy or ‘stabilitocracy’ in the Western Balkans?

byИнститут за европска политика

Starting from August 2021, the Think for Europe Network (TEN) commenced its work on the research project “the EU as a promoter of democracy or ‘stabilitocracy’ in the Western Balkans?”. This project is implemented in partnership with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’.

Through its enlargement policies the EU tries to foster democratisation in the Western Balkan region. Now that further reforms in a number of countries only progress slowly or seem even deadlocked, more and more attention is being paid to the negative side-effects of EU policies. The literature on EU enlargement notes that, in spite of their democratic objectives, EU strategies and policies unintentionally contribute to the formation of so-called stabilitocracies in the region: countries with obvious democratic shortcomings that at the same time claim to provide pro-EU stability.

The research project focuses on the six countries of the Western Balkans. For each country, it assesses how flaws in the EU’s enlargement policies as identified in the literature play out in practice by offering a reflection on the applicability of the theoretical framework for the specific country, underpinned by an assessment of a number of case studies.

The project will be carried out throughout 2021 and will culminate in a Clingendael report in English with 6 contributions from TEN partners, one for each country of the Western Balkan Six.

This project is financed by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.

Clients: Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands’ Ministry of Defence

Implementers: the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ in collaboration with the Think for Europe network.

Продолжи со читање

  • Journalists Decode EU Institutions, Acquis, and Enlargement Policies

    On 16–17 October 2026, the European Policy Institute (EPI) organized the first training module under the project “Decode the EU – Communicating EU policies together” in Strumica. The two-day workshop brought together 10 journalists from diverse media outlets, aiming to strengthen analytical, evidence-based reporting on North Macedonia’s EU accession journey.The…

  • MoU with the British Business Association in North Macedonia

    🤝 Strong economies are built on strong partnerships. Finance Think and the British Business Association in North Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday, laying the foundation for closer cooperation on issues of importance to the business community, policymakers and society. The partnership brings together the British Business Association’s extensive business network and Finance Think’s […]
    The post MoU with the British Business Association in North Macedonia first appeared on Finance Think.
    The post MoU with the British Business Association in North Macedonia appeared first on Finance Think.

  • On pension matters, participation in Bloomberg

    🔴 What awaits future pensioners? 🟥 What kind of pension model do we need, and who will bear the burden of future reforms? 📌 Without measures, the deficit in the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund will continue to grow, and by the mid-2040s there will be fewer insured persons than pensioners, according to a study […]
    The post On pension matters, participation in Bloomberg first appeared on Finance Think.
    The post On pension matters, participation in Bloomberg appeared first on Finance Think.

  • Is Political Interference Addressed in the Frameworks of the Prosecutorial Councils in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

    This policy brief examines the frameworks governing prosecutorial councils in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to assess whether their laws ensure adequate independence in line with European standards. The rule of law and an independent justice system are fundamental to the European Union’s enlargement process, particularly within the crucial Chapter 23. A cornerstone of […]
    The post Is Political Interference Addressed in the Frameworks of the Prosecutorial Councils in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina? appeared first on EPI.

  • Raising the Bar on Integrity: Aligning North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with the 2026 EU Anti-Corruption Directive

    This policy brief evaluates anti-corruption alignment and structural vulnerabilities in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina against the EU’s Directive (EU) 2026/1021 on Combatting Corruption. Within the European Union’s “Fundamentals First” enlargement methodology, establishing an accountable administration, an independent judiciary, and robust anti-corruption enforcement is a primary condition for membership. Despite significant differences in their […]
    The post Raising the Bar on Integrity: Aligning North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with the 2026 EU Anti-Corruption Directive appeared first on EPI.