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EU’s credibility at stake with Albania and North Macedonia accession talks decision

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Our senior fellow Azra Dizdar, currently studying at SOAS London as a Chevening Scholar, co-authored an article for The International Institute for Strategic Studies.

She and her colleague Nickolas Crawford argue that if EU member states continue considering whether to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, closing the door on further enlargement would risk the EU’s credibility and incentivize Western Balkan states to turn elsewhere for support.  

The worst outcome for both the EU and the Western Balkans is not to proceed with membership negotiations. Refusing membership talks with both countries would undermine their pro-European governments, threaten the progress of liberal reforms in the wider Western Balkans, further erode the EU’s credibility on enlargement, and incentivise Western Balkan states to turn elsewhere for support.

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