Tough Love: The European Union’S Relations with the Western Balkans

Abstract

A sales edition of this dissertation is published by T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague,The Netherlands, The cover illustration shows the renovated Old Bridge (Stare Most) in Mostar. All rights reserved. © 2007, Steven Blockmans, Brussels, BelgiumNo part of the material protected by the copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner. Natural resources oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower TOUGH LOVE: THE EUROPEAN UNION'S RELATIONS WITH THE WESTERN BALKANSAgricultural products wheat, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes, livestock, dairy products Industries chemicals and plastics, machinery, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminium, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum (refining), food and beverages, tourism Export products transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels Import products machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs Currency Euro Most prominent trading partners Government budget balance1.2% of GDP Current account balance-9.1% of GDP (2005) Foreign debt 27.6% of GDP (2005) Natural resources bauxite, hydroelectricity

Adaptation for autonomy? Candidates for EU membership and the CFSP

“…Thus, in the wake of the Kosovo crisis at the end of the 1990s, the European Council established that candidates ought to settle their bilateral disputes, as a prerequisite for entering the Union, including through the involvement of the International Court of Justice where necessary (Cremona, 2001, p. 231;European Council, 1999, pt 4). The Union's acknowledgment of the "European perspective" of the countries of the Western Balkans further led to the establishment of specific eligibility conditions for the countries concerned (Blockmans, 2007(Blockmans, , 2009Council of the EU, 1997;Council of the EU, 2003). In particular, the process is taking place in, and is subject to the conditions of the wider context of the so-called Stabilisation and Association Process which, as its name indicates, is geared towards regional stability and cooperation.…”

Does National Identity Matter? Political Conditionality and the Crucial Case of Serbia's (Non‐)Co‐operation with the ICTY

“…In the summer of 2005, an impasse over the ratification of an EU constitution called into question the EU's capacity to deliver on its promise of membership (Blockmans, , p. 291). In addition, the EU demonstrated inconsistency in its application of ICTY conditionality: accession negotiations with Croatia were opened although Gotovina remained at large (Blockmans, , p. 286). The EU also opened SAA negotiations with Serbia despite its lack of full co‐operation with the tribunal (Blockmans, , pp.…”

“…In addition, the EU demonstrated inconsistency in its application of ICTY conditionality: accession negotiations with Croatia were opened although Gotovina remained at large (Blockmans, , p. 286). The EU also opened SAA negotiations with Serbia despite its lack of full co‐operation with the tribunal (Blockmans, , pp. 259ff).…”

The EU’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding: four key challenges

“…The articles in this Forum seek to fill some of these gaps by examining EU conflict prevention and peacebuilding in action in particular key regions for the EU: the Western Balkans and the Horn of Africa. The Western Balkans has been, and remains, a key area of engagement for the EU since the dissolution of the Yugoslavian Federation in the 1990s (Blockmans, 2007;Juncos, 2013). It has also become a testing ground for CSDP capabilities and the EU's integrated approach.…”