Sneak through the back door

From a self-interest perspective, the new proposal by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to promote their respective EU accession processes helps to link Albania and Serbia to the EU, but it also complicates matters for the union.

Mr. Vucic and Mr. Rama proposed that the EU allow Serbia and Albania to participate immediately in the EU's internal market and the Schengen Area without having to formally join the EU.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (left) and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (right)

Photo: AFP

The two leaders argued that this "one foot in, one foot out" strategy did not require the EU to immediately change its laws and institutions, as is usually the case with expansions—that is, it did not require appointing more Commissioners to the European Commission, expanding the European Parliament, changing the procedures and processes for adopting common EU decisions, or expanding the range of countries with veto power within the EU. Instead, the EU gained an immediate market for economic cooperation, trade, and investment in Serbia and Albania, binding these two countries to the EU and encouraging their citizens to align their fate and future with the EU.

The arguments mentioned above sound reasonable, but they could also create difficulties for the EU. It's true that the EU currently needs the wishes proposed by the two leaders, but this could create a fait accompli, leaving the EU with no way back in quickly admitting Serbia and Albania.

Entering the EU through the back door is impossible, and going through the front door is uncertain in terms of when success will come, so they resort to using side channels to create opportunities, thereby pushing for EU membership. Meanwhile, the EU finds it difficult to refuse because non-member countries are already part of the Schengen Area and the EU Internal Market.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lach-cua-ngach-185260312230543327.htm