BrusselsBrussels is warning six candidate countries<\/b> to freezefinancing<\/a><\/b> if they do not proceed<\/b> with rule of law reforms by the end of June<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The European course of the Western Balkans<\/b> enters a critical juncture<\/b>, as the European Union noticeably tightens its stance on the countries in candidate status<\/b>. Against a backdrop of persistent weaknesses in the rule of law<\/b>, judicial independence and democratic reforms<\/b>, Brussels<\/b> is signalling that financial support will no longer be independent of progress on institutional change<\/b>. The warning of a possible loss of hundreds of millions of euros<\/b> serves as a clear signal that EU enlargement is now going through rigorous evaluation<\/b> and tangible results, while the coming months are seen as decisive for the course of the whole region<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The European Union is warning six Western Balkan candidate countries<\/b> that they risk losing up to \u20ac700 million in funding<\/b> if they fail to make the necessary reforms<\/b> by the end of June, a source with knowledge of the matter<\/b> said.<\/p>\nConcerns<\/h3>\n
At a meeting of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos is expected to present the shortcomings of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, the source said.<\/p>\n
The \u20ac700 million is part of a total package of \u20ac6 billion that the EU has committed to the six countries under the Reform and Development Mechanism from 2024, of which \u20ac2 billion is grants and \u20ac4 billion is loans, with an implementation horizon until 2027 and subject to meeting specific reform targets. However, Brussels has publicly expressed concerns about rule of law and democratic backsliding issues in several of the candidate countries, which may jeopardise future funding.<\/p>\n
The case of Serbia, the largest former Yugoslav country, which has been a candidate for EU membership since 2012, is particularly telling. Its accession path has been effectively frozen since 2022, due to its refusal to align with sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, as well as its failure to normalise relations with Kosovo, which seceded in 2008.<\/p>\n
The same source said Kos is expected to inform the European Parliament that the European Commission will suspend disbursement decisions to Serbia over concerns about judicial reforms adopted by the country’s parliament in January, pending the Venice Commission’s opinion. <\/p>\n
The advisory body on constitutional law is expected to send its report by the end of April. Serbia has until Tuesday to respond to the preliminary findings received last week, according to Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic. Belgrade is in contact with the commission and will move immediately to address any concerns and prevent a negative assessment, she said on Monday.<\/p>\n
These reforms have been denounced by opposition parties as an attempt to limit the independence of judges and prosecutors, whose decisions during massive anti-government protests last year did not align with the aspirations of the ruling Progressive Party and President Aleksandar Vucic.<\/p>\n
Vucic defended the changes as a measure to address inefficiencies in the judicial system and alleged abuses of independence by some prosecutors and judges who, he claimed, were “acting on behalf of other countries.”<\/p>\n
At the same time, he criticized the MPs for passing five laws on the judiciary without wide public consultation, while reiterating his commitment to Serbia’s European path and supporting the establishment of a special group for restarting accession negotiations.<\/p>\n
According to a previous Politico report, Serbia could lose up to 1.5 billion euros from the EU over concerns about the rule of law, including judicial reforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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