The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western Balkans

After the Cold War, the Western Balkan countries have become an important laboratory for the EU, able to exert its EU crises management and transformative power. Through restoring stability in the region, overcoming ethno–territorial and inter–ethnic conflicts, improving regional cooperation, conso...

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Main Author: Gentjan Skara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Institute of Romania 2014-12-01
Series:Romanian Journal of European Affairs
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/articole/RJEA_2014_vol14_no4_art2.pdf
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author Gentjan Skara
author_facet Gentjan Skara
author_sort Gentjan Skara
collection DOAJ
description After the Cold War, the Western Balkan countries have become an important laboratory for the EU, able to exert its EU crises management and transformative power. Through restoring stability in the region, overcoming ethno–territorial and inter–ethnic conflicts, improving regional cooperation, consolidating democracy, building democratic institutions and promoting market economy, EU’s goal was to make war unthinkable in this region. Referring to the definition of peacebuilding as ‘action to identify and support structures which tend to strengthen and solidify peace to avoid a relapse into conflicts’, this paper tries to explore whether, how and to what extent, EU has contributed as a peacebuilder in the Western Balkans, using crises management operations and mission and enlargement policy. It argues that both these instruments can be considered equally relevant as, on the one hand they create favourable conditions for lasting peace, security and stability in the region and on the other hand, through enlargement policy they push this region towards political and institutional reform, economic reforms and regional cooperation.
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spelling doaj-art-26dde5efa72341b8a77fb27a1e1327792025-08-20T03:23:18ZengEuropean Institute of RomaniaRomanian Journal of European Affairs1582-82711841-42732014-12-011442643The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western BalkansGentjan Skara0PhD candidate, member of the Department of Law at “Hëna e Plotë”(Bedër) UniversityAfter the Cold War, the Western Balkan countries have become an important laboratory for the EU, able to exert its EU crises management and transformative power. Through restoring stability in the region, overcoming ethno–territorial and inter–ethnic conflicts, improving regional cooperation, consolidating democracy, building democratic institutions and promoting market economy, EU’s goal was to make war unthinkable in this region. Referring to the definition of peacebuilding as ‘action to identify and support structures which tend to strengthen and solidify peace to avoid a relapse into conflicts’, this paper tries to explore whether, how and to what extent, EU has contributed as a peacebuilder in the Western Balkans, using crises management operations and mission and enlargement policy. It argues that both these instruments can be considered equally relevant as, on the one hand they create favourable conditions for lasting peace, security and stability in the region and on the other hand, through enlargement policy they push this region towards political and institutional reform, economic reforms and regional cooperation.https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/articole/RJEA_2014_vol14_no4_art2.pdfpeacebuildingeuropean unioncommon security and defence policyenlargement policywestern balkans
spellingShingle Gentjan Skara
The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western Balkans
Romanian Journal of European Affairs
peacebuilding
european union
common security and defence policy
enlargement policy
western balkans
title The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western Balkans
title_full The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western Balkans
title_fullStr The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western Balkans
title_full_unstemmed The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western Balkans
title_short The Role of the EU as a Peacebuilder in the Western Balkans
title_sort role of the eu as a peacebuilder in the western balkans
topic peacebuilding
european union
common security and defence policy
enlargement policy
western balkans
url https://rjea.ier.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/articole/RJEA_2014_vol14_no4_art2.pdf
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