After the coronavirus pandemic ended, the war in Ukraine began, and Europe’s priorities changed dramatically.
Since no new member had been admitted for a long time, Brussels realised that it was time for enlargement, and the Western Balkans once again came into focus, along with the countries most exposed to Russia - Moldova and Ukraine.
Although the countries of the region have long been on the European path, and many have likely lost hope and trust in the process, optimistic messages continue to come from the EU.
These and other topics were discussed at the BELTALKS Belgrade Economic Talks forum held in the Serbian capital, attended by numerous foreign and domestic officials, diplomats, and experts from various fields.
As the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, noted, he plans to present an idea to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa.
"The admission of the entire Western Balkans into the EU is the best idea. If someone is left out, what will you do with those countries? And I know everyone talks about alignment, but this is about more than the future of the region - it is about the future of Europe. If we are all admitted together, without exception, everyone will feel better, Albanians, Bosnians… I hear only positive reactions to this idea, and I will pass that on to them," Vučić said.
Speaking precisely about alignment with European standards, Siniša Mali, Serbia’s Minister of Finance and First Deputy Prime Minister, pointed out that the country has been on the European path for 20 years, and that most of its regulations have already been harmonised.
"By the end of next year, we will establish a system ensuring that every law we adopt is aligned with the EU, and this also applies to free trade. This is my most important message – Serbia will be fully aligned with the EU, formally, by the end of next year. Whether we actually become a member is a political decision, but this proves that Serbia wants to do everything necessary on the road to EU integration," Mali said at the BELTALKS forum.
However, he added that although we want to be part of the EU, "it is a two-way street".
"We have no choice; we are part of the European family and we want, once and for all, to become a member of the European Union. When we talk about reforms, in 2015 we had an agreement with the IMF, and reforms were at its core – from education to public administration – so we are fully committed to implementing reforms because they improve quality of life and citizens’ living standards. Of course, there are obstacles and challenges, but so far we have proved to be fairly resilient," Mali said.
Growth Plan pushing the region forward
As Mali noted, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is crucial for our region and views it as a whole.
"The Growth Plan pushes us to be more efficient, to integrate. All the roads and railways we are building help our shared growth," he said at the BELTALKS forum.
According to Jiří Plecity, Head of the Serbia Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement, the region must become business-friendly, and one of the goals of instruments such as the Growth Plan is to maintain and increase this attractiveness in the future.
"There are two conclusions reached by the European Commission, and they are interconnected. First, accession has not been fast enough, nor has convergence. Therefore, the Growth Plan should address both of these issues and change the situation. Many more opportunities are being offered, while at the same time it serves as a tool to accelerate EU integration. It is a way to implement all these processes more effectively," Plecity emphasised.
Enlargement involves candidates increasing their efforts, but also requires the EU to do more on its side. If reforms are shown to be implemented in the right way, even more European funds will be made available to the Western Balkan countries, Plecity believes.
One of the people who has repeatedly stressed that the Western Balkans should be better united is the Italian ambassador, Luca Gori.
"Regional cooperation is not at the level we would like to see in the Western Balkans, especially when it comes to trade. A better-integrated region would bring a 10 per cent boost to GDP. There are three main problems: different regulatory frameworks, pricing mechanisms, and varying levels of market liberalisation. Because of this, it is not easy to move towards energy diversification. All in all, we need a more united region because then Europe, too, will be better integrated in terms of energy, making the continent less dependent on others," Italian ambassador Luca Gori underlined.
At the conclusion of the BELTALKS forum, Vuk Velebit from the Pupin Initiative also spoke.
"When we talk about different sectors, from innovation to trade and so on, we are really talking about geopolitics. Last week I was at the EU–Western Balkans summit in Brussels, and once again we talked about new opportunities. We also talked about the engine of enlargement, but I think we need to talk about trust. We want to be in the EU, but does the EU want to accept the region? Because if that is not the case, and you do not want to accept the biggest country in the region, then we have a problem. If Serbia is not in the EU, then I am not optimistic," Velebit said.
How much has Serbia used from the EU Growth Plan?
At the end of 2023, the European Commission adopted the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with the aim of strengthening the region’s convergence towards the EU through gradual inclusion in certain policies, programmes, and membership benefits, even during the preparatory phase before formal accession.
To draw the full amount, Serbia must implement 98 reforms across four areas by 2027 - business and the private sector, green and digital transition, human capital, and the rule of law.
In June 2024, the EU paid €51.7 million, which represented 7 per cent of the initial pre-financing. Further payments depend on progress.
Twice a year, based on Serbia’s reports, the European Commission assesses which reforms have been fulfilled and how much money will be transferred to Serbia’s budget accordingly.
So far, out of the planned seven steps, four have been successfully completed, meaning Serbia can draw a maximum of €67 million instead of the planned €112 million.
The deadline for the 2024 reforms is two years, and funds not drawn within that period may be lost or reallocated to other countries. This means Serbia has until next year to complete the remaining steps.
In the first half of 2025, a further 10 reforms and a potential €163 million were planned.
Why is the Berlin Process important?
Another instrument launched by the EU to help the Western Balkans improve regional cooperation and progress towards EU accession is the Berlin Process, which was also discussed at the forum in Belgrade.
"The Berlin Process has created a stable platform for regional cooperation that does not depend solely on internal regional dynamics between individual countries. So far, we have had productive meetings aimed at further strengthening cooperation. Serbia has eight neighbours, which is the highest number after Germany, and this is crucial for regional stability, meaning this process brings benefits. Working on regional cooperation is in our national interest, but it is also an important part of EU accession; these are two things that cannot be separated," explained Minister Marko Đurić.
Naturally, he added, the Berlin Process is not a substitute for EU accession, but it is an important instrument.
As the British ambassador to Serbia, Edward Ferguson, pointed out, 20 meetings have so far been organised in 10 countries. It was stated that the countries need to work together, whether the topic is cyber security, migration, or other issues.
Jakov Devčić, director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, said that the conditions in 2014 were different, but as the war in Ukraine escalated, the discussion on EU enlargement became relevant once again.
"The Berlin Process is an expression of what politics represents; we have many success stories, but also failures and missed opportunities. At that time, in 2014, the intensity of negotiations was different. Therefore, we must rethink the Berlin Process and work together," Devčić said, adding that Germany strongly supports the region on enlargement matters - much more under the current government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz than was previously the case.
"Many agreements need to be unblocked, rather than remain dead letters on paper," he stated.
How was the Berlin Process launched?
The Berlin Process, launched in 2014, represents a key framework for the economic and political integration of Western Balkan countries with the European Union, promoting regional cooperation and sustainable economic growth.
One of the main points emphasised in the document is the need to further raise awareness of the European Union as a community of values, as well as the essential role of EU investors and local businesses in promoting the benefits of EU membership, such as the free movement of people, capital, services, and goods within the single market.
Additionally, the Berlin Process has established fertile ground for dialogue between economic and political actors, which should be further strengthened through forums such as the Western Balkans Digital Summit. The aim is for economic stakeholders to become actively involved in political processes and contribute to further development.
(EUpravo zato)