A new direction for Europe in the Western Balkans
A new direction for Europe in the Western Balkans
In 1957 the European Union, at that time known as the European Economic Community, was created when six countries signed the Treaties of Rome. From that moment on, the EU has pursued ever deeper integration while taking in new members. In recent years, the EU Enlargement process has focused on Turkey and the Western Balkans (Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo). SOLIDAR is of the opinion that this enlargement process can only be successful if a stronger role is reserved for civil society and civil society organisations (CSOs).
In this document SOLIDAR defines 5 Civil Society Recommendations to the new Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy and calls upon the new European Commission to decide upon a new direction for Europe. This new direction includes a strong engagement towards the inclusion of civil society and civil society organisations in the enlargement process. SOLIDAR sees this is as one of the main factors needed for an effective process of stabilisation and adequate implementation of various policies and reforms in a new Member State.
