On the EU way

After 1989 when the communist world collapsed and the world was hurt by regional wars and instabilities, the EU managed to establish itself as the only regional space of stability and certainty. "Today, this certainty is being challenged and there are existential questions about the future survival of the EU – said Othon Anastasakis, director of European Studies Centre (St Antony’s College, Oxford) – and this does not allow much room for economic optimism especially when South East Europe is part of the suffering periphery of the EU". Anastasakis was interviewed by Nike Giurlani for SIR Europe after the conference "Enlargement in Perspective: Balkans-Turkey" which took place last week in the European Parliament.How the EU enlargement accession process is currently perceived amongst citizens in the Western Balkans and Turkey?"At the moment all the Western Balkan countries with the exception of Turkey still want to become members of the European Union. This seems to be their only sensible option for the future while any other external alternatives and options are limited and short term. While the European Commission rightly continues to monitor progress and reform and the European Parliament to advocate warmly their European orientation, a lot depends on the future of the European economy and the European project". Which are the main problems for candidate and potential candidate states in Balkan area? "The main problems that these countries are facing today emanate from adverse developments in the region and the EU itself. These have to do with major socio-economic obstacles and the lower level of economic development in the region, political instability and democratic regression in most of these states and the slow pace of reform. In addition, bilateral problems and historical rivalries between the aspirant countries, on the one hand, and member states and aspirant countries, on the other, create further obstacles to the smooth operation of the region’s enlargement process. On the EU side, there are also problems of enlargement reluctance and internal coordination. This is the first time that the EU’s enlargement is being conducted in the context of a severe economic crisis which has hit most members of the eurozone and has an impact on all the Balkan states. It is a big challenge for the European Commission, and a personal test for Commissioner Štefan Füle, to produce some real output at a time when the impact and influence of the Commission is waning and the enlargement agenda is overshadowed by the problems of the eurozone". What is the impact of the EU’s economic and political crisis on the aspirant countries? "It has shaken their beliefs in the transformative capacity of the EU. It has deconstructed some myths which were dominant before the crisis hit Europe. The success stories of Southern Europe -Spain, Portugal and Greece- as well as, the success stories of the last enlargement – Slovenia, Hungary and Cyprus -are now being revisited as stories of instability, austerity and unemployment. With the reduction of the EU’s attractiveness comes the rise of other external actors who through their economic power (China), or their political power and energy resources (Russia) have become appealing options, despite the fact that their impact and influence are more limited and they cannot substitute for the EU’s more comprehensive approach and engagement".For example?"Turkey, a candidate country as well as an external actor in the Balkans, is currently the only stable politically country in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the only country that has been growing and prospering and with an independence in its foreign policy. In the current global configuration, Turkey’s European future is not simply a bilateral matter between herself and the EU, and an issue of choice between the two sides. It is also affected by the Middle East and its prolonged instability, the rise of energy politics and the role of Turkey as a main transit route for energy, and the rise of regional powers around the world and Turkey’s placement within this new configuration. Taking this into account and because of a very problematic and frozen EU accession talks’ process, the EU is not just losing its attractiveness on Turkey but also its leverage for domestic change".What does civil society expect from policy makers in the EU and in their own country in order to speed up the process?"Civil society in the Balkans can be a source of independent action and democratic control which could convey to the EU the fears and concerns of the people in the region. By trying to keep their independence from the central governments and the states, they should act as anchors for a more autonomous action and at the same time preserve the European and democratic spirit for the citizens of these countries. Because the Western Balkan countries are small and interconnected, civil society actors should work regionally in order to be able to produce more effective results. However, one should not overestimate their potential and ability to bring about real change or affect the pro-european course radically". How could civil society and trade unions develop common initiatives to promote social cohesion, active inclusion, decent work and quality employment and what specific issues should be highlighted?"They should work together with the European Commission and the European Parliament in order to promote values and norms for better and more just societies. More important they should work towards reconciliation among the different groups within and between the former Yugoslav countries, having gone through wars and ethnic cleansing. This is one of the most important tasks in order for these countries to progress, develop and work together against the excesses of political power which is observed in most countries of the Western Balkans and in Turkey, nowadays".