Conference A legal assessment of EU integration in the Western Balkans
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dramatically changed the geopolitical situation in the European continent. Former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell called the war in Ukraine an “awakening moment for Europe” and declared that it was “high time to reinvigorate the enlargement process and integrate the Western Balkans in an irreversible manner into the EU.
After years of stalemate, it seems that EU enlargement is back on the agenda of EU institutions. Taking stock of these developments, and in order to provide a forum for discussion on recent developments and revisit evergreens of enlargement policy, the Europa Institute (Leiden University) and the Asser Institute joined forces and organized on 31 October 2025 a one-day conference entitled “A legal assessment of EU integration in the Western Bakans” (link to full programme).
Dr. Darinka Piqani (Europa Institute) and Dr. Narin Idriz (Asser Institute) invited experts to reflect on three main themes:
- relations between the EU and candidate countries in the Western Balkans as reflected in the good old Stabilization and Association Agreements, EU conditionality policy and the more recent Growth Plan;
- a view on reforms in Western Balkan countries with examples from the rule of law, judicial cooperation in civil matters, protection of minority rights, environmental policy in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia;
- the legal dimension of (economic) integration in the region with a specific focus on potential legal issues, overlaps, tensions, synergies triggered by the co-existence of various cooperation initiatives such as CEFTA, regional common market, Berlin process, Regional Cooperation Council, (the defunct) Open Balkan Initiative.
The conference gathered academics and experts from the region and beyond and offered an excellent forum for exchange and critical reflection on EU’s policy in the region, its impact and effects. Upon invitation by the organizers, Prof. Adam Łazowski (Professor at the Westminster Law School and European Neighbourhood Chair Coordinator and Visting Professor at the College of Europe, Natolin) delivered the keynote lecture entitled “Balancing on a Tightrope: Pre-accession Policy and Pursuit of EU Values”.
Experts in the first panel revisited the Stabilisation and Association Agreements and their renewed role in the context of the Growth Plan. Presentations questioned whether the legal and policy framework that prepares Western Balkan countries for membership, is fit for purpose. A recurring finding in the second panel was the discrepancy between top down reform agendas and the ability of societies to absorb and integrate change. Finally, the third panel shed a new light on the Western Balkans as a good example of regionalism based on formal commitments that go hand in hand with EU integration. However, instances of intra-regional cooperation remain highly political and lack strong enforcement mechanisms. The findings of the conference will be published in an edited volume.
The conference was made possible with the support of the Europa Institute, Asser Institute and Leiden University Fund.