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Argument: Joining the EU will help stabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Supporting quotations
"The EU must keep its promise to the Western Balkans". The Bridge. 2006 - "The second reason for concern is that fears about the EU’s commitment to further enlargement come at a time when the Western Balkan countries face highly sensitive decisions concerning their statehood and governance. Negotiations over the ‘final status’ of Kosovo ― the overwhelmingly Albanian region that is formally part of Serbia ― started earlier in 2006. On May 21st, Montenegrins voted in favour of ending their ‘state union’ with Serbia. The EU has been heavily involved in both processes. Radical reforms lie ahead in Bosnia, where the EU is expected to play a bigger role than in the past. Macedonia ― now officially a candidate country ― is hoping to start accession talks soon. Croatia, which is already in accession negotiations, is banking on rapid progress."
If the credibility of the accession process weakens ― because EU leaders put short-term political decisions ahead of long-term strategic considerations ― the EU’s leverage over the weak states of the Western Balkans will diminish drastically. In this case, economic and administrative reforms would slow down, and the search for sustainable solutions to the outstanding political problems would become vastly more difficult. Instead of entering a new era in which the Western Balkans consolidates internally and focuses on getting ready for EU entry, the region could turn into an entrenched base for trafficking and organised crime and a haven for terrorists and Islamic fundamentalists. Such an outcome would be disastrous for the Western Balkans, and soon also for the rest of Europe."
"Kosovo puts Balkans back on EU agenda". The Nation. 19 Feb. 2008 - Unless the EU acts quickly, the whole region could slide backwards, with dire social, economic, and security consequences. The EU needs a comprehensive regional approach, focusing on the remaining steps that would lead each country towards membership.
The Western Balkans - a term used only since 1999 - comprises Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo, with a combined population of roughly 22 million. Economic developments in the region are promising, with almost all its economies posting high growth, fuelled by increasing industrial output and exports. Inward investment is steadily rising, as business seems to believe that the remaining political and security challenges - the possible negative effects of post-independence Kosovo and Bosnia's malaise - will be overcome sooner rather than later.
Wolfgang Petritsch. "EU welcome can safeguard Balkan stability". Australian. 19 Feb. 2008 - Unless the European Union acts quickly, the whole region could slide backwards, with dire social, economic and security consequences. The EU needs a comprehensive regional approach, focusing on the remaining steps that would lead each country towards membership.
George McFarlane. Facebook Discussion Board. 23 Aug. 2008 - "What is the EU for if not to help those who have strayed from the path of peace, prosperity and liberty to find it again?"[1]
"EU expansion - the pros and cons explained". Times Online. 9 Oct. 2002 - The main 'pro' is peace and security. Were these countries to be kept outside, then ancient enmities and a rise in nationalism could spark regional conflicts.
Charles Grant and Tomas Valasek for the Centre for European Reform (CER) wrote that the EU high representative has to make a choice "between restoring direct international rule over Bosnia or seeing the country disintegrate".[2]
