The Balkans and the EU: levering” ” economic development ” “

The first visit to Montenegro – past 21 November – of European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and enlargement negotiations, Johannes Hahn, was awaited with great anticipation after Executive President Jean-Claude Juncker declared that in the next five years there will be no EU enlargement, causing great discomfort across all six countries of the Western Balkans – those already candidates as well applicant Countries yet awaiting to be conferred that status (Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo). In Montenegro – the country that in the current negotiation process is a step ahead of the others – feelings of disappointment were particularly strong. But Commissioner Hahn stressed that the enlargement process will continue and that his visit is but a confirmation of the EU’s confidence in it. However, the public opinion of many Member States, struggling with economic problems, has a negative view of further expansions of EU borders, considered a burden rather than a joint benefit. On the other hand, Montenegro wished to emphasize that given the situation of economic crisis that has severely affected many highly developed EU Member states, the fact that the weak democratic tradition of this Balkan state – as that of all other countries of the region – is largely caused by the economic crisis, deserves serious reflection. The present situation is evident not so much in the lack of natural but of human resources: notably, the lack of an entrepreneurial culture and of professionals specialized in doing business in various sectors, from agriculture to tourism to environmental protection, from infrastructural projects to those for the production of electricity, that is, capable of being competitive at European level. It’ a common heritage of the entire Balkan region, due to century-old economic and social backwardness and to the negative effects of state economy in the decades of single-party rule during the second post-war period and at the end of economic and social standstill that followed the turbulent 1990s scarred by devastating armed conflicts in the Balkans. Thus it is more than evident that what Montenegro needs the most today are foreign investments, opening internal markets and the support of EU adhesion funds, which in addition to financial resources could also bring a new management model, namely, whatever could contribute to ensuring the success and the sustainability of new enterprises, along with new rules in the job environment. This success, accompanied by the much awaited new jobs for the unemployed, for the young and for the victims of redundancies, would constitute the only effective thrust to continue pursuing the path of reforms also in other areas, notably in the judiciary for the fight on organized crime and escalating corruption: a widespread evil throughout Balkan countries. Economic development appears to be the indispensable condition for social progress and Rule of the Law. Conversely, in a scenario of further poverty, the weakest and poorest brackets of Montenegro society, along with the middle classes – currently nurturing a sort of Euro-enthusiasm – could loose confidence in the integration process and start developing a form of euro-scepticism before the possibility of having to face further sacrifices with no chance of improving their living standards. In fact, this sentiment smoulders beneath the surface of Montenegro’ society and in neighbouring populations. Confidence in the European Union is critical to the completion of political, economic, and social reforms enshrined in the adhesion agenda.