Analysis Of Relations Between Visegrad Group And Balkan Countries (Coursework Sample)

COMENIUS UNIVERSITY IN BRATISLAVA
Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences
Institute of European Studies and International Relations
Subject: Comparative Politics – Central Europe
Topic of Essay: V4 and Balkans
Student: Danilo Hinic
Abstract
This essay will analyze main common priorities of Visegrad Group towards Western Balkan with specific focus on Slovakia and its policies to Western Balkan. Firstly there will be shown basic principles of V4 agenda towards Western Balkan countries. To present how their agenda works in practice will be done case study focusing on one of mostly engaged V4 country in Western Balkan- Slovakia.. It will be presented that Slovakia mostly engages in Serbia with V4 policies related to Western Balkan. After showing Slovakias V4 policy towards Serbia it will be shown how economic relations also develop together with cooperation on EU integration and are based on historical ties.
Introduction
This paper will analyze relations between Visegrad Group and Balkans. Main task of this paper is to show common stance and agenda of V4 countries on Euro-Atlantic integration of Western Balkan and it will be done more practically with case of Slovakia. First part of the paper will analyze common policies of V4 countries towards Balkans. We will basically review common priorities of V4 as an organization towards Balkans. After this presenting there will be conducted case study. As showing some policies in practice can be more relevant we will present on case of Slovakia how one V4 country implements these common V4 agenda. Slovakia is chosen because this country is probably the most engaged V4 country in Western Balkan and most decisive in implementing this agenda. Another more specific case will be Serbia. On case of Serbia application of Visegrad Group policies by Slovakia in Western Balkan is mostly visible. It is like that because Slovakia sees Serbia as a priority country for its V4 agenda on Western Balkan. Slovakia found opportunity to develop economic relations with Serbia together with its supporting in EU integration. This will be good example to show how together with involving of a V4 country in issues of Euro-Atlantic integration closer cooperation and constructive relationship develops in economic aspect too. Case of Slovakia and Serbia seems to be good to illustrate that how Visegrad Group country with applying V4 agenda in some Western Balkan country develops constructive relations in economic aspect and both sides find this useful. Shortly will be overviewed historical ties between Serbia and Slovakia as in my opinion they are bridge for high cooperation on EU issue and economy. We know that countries with disputes used to block each other in EU accession. Main method for showing V4 agenda in Western Balkan as it was explained will be case study. After showing some general information about V4 common agenda towards Western Balkan to show it more relevantly and realistically will be illustrated by mentioned above cases. Hopefully this will fulfill it relevantly.
Basic principles of V4 agenda in Western Balkans
Common stance of V4 countries is supporting and helping Balkan countries in Euro-Atlantic integration. V4 states intensively and strongly support integration of Western Balkan in Euro-Atlantic structures. (Visegrad Group,2012) V4 countries want to support maintaining of peace and stability on Balkan. Their main vision is that membership of Western Balkan countries in EU and NATO will stabilize situation in the Balkan. (SAC, 2012) According to joint statement of V4 Group from meeting in Warsaw in 2012, their common stance is to assist Western Balkan countries on road towards EU Membership. V4 countries as members of EU want to support policies of EU towards Balkan (its EU integration and maintenance of peace and stability). Based on EU core interests in integrating Western Balkan in its structures and keeping peace and stability ,V4 countries act by implementing EU policies in assisting Western Balkan countries in EU integration. ( SAC,2012)
Under these policies of supporting Balkan states in EU membership there are 6 pillars of V4 agenda for Western Balkans. Reviewing these basic pillars is supposed to help us to show main common priorities of V4 countries towards Western Balkan and to show how strongly V4 countries are interested in cooperation with Western Balkan countries on their Euro-Atlantic integration.
First pillar is related generally to all states in Western Balkan. Basic pillar of V4 joint policies in Western Balkan covers all states in region and is about technical assistance. Other five pillars are based on common stance of V4 towards particular Balkan countries and issues. As it was said first pillar is about providing technical assistance to Western Balkan countries. Under this pillar is considered shifting from economic developmental aid to technical assisting of these states on their road to EU membership. V4 provided financial help for economic and social development of Western Balkan countries as well as other EU states. ( SAC,2012) Now these Balkan states reached some level of economic and social development and they don’t need so much economic donations from EU and Visegrad Group countries. Therefore V4 countries are focusing more on providing technical help. V4 countries belong to countries which had successfully became EU members as they effectively conducted administrative, social and economic reforms and strengthening rule of law required by EU. V4 countries consider themselves as a well experienced in fulfilling EU standards in mentioned spheres for EU membership. Therefore they consider that with their experiences, their guidance and technical assistance will be useful for Balkan states. ( Visegrad Group, 2012) Under this shift from economic to technical aid is considered transferring of knowledge to support administrative, social and economic transformations. ( SAC, 2012) Under technical aid is also considered supporting of rule of law and creating a functional civil society. During Polish Presidency was initiated idea of establishing Western Balkan Fund which will be based on model of International Visegrad Fund. This Fund will support various projects including several fields: “culture, science and education, motivate cross border cooperation and facilitate the exchange of experiences among countries in the region” (Visegrad Group, 2013) In 2008 there was established Visegrad Plus Program which is based on so called Flexible Fund. This Program has to finance projects which will contribute to democratization and transformation of various Eastern European and Western Balkan states. Main priorities are related to financing projects related to rule of law and fundamental rights, civil society and regional cooperation. Examples can be two programs related to civil society development and learning from experiences of V4 introduced to Serbia. These two projects cost 140 000 euros and were implemented from 2009 to 2012. ( Visegrad Fund, 2014) As it was mentioned Visegrad Plus Program is supposed to increase cooperation with newest members ( Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia with Balkan future members. (SAC, 2012) V4 specially appreciates path of Croatia to EU as they successfully implemented EU standards in administration, rule of law, human rights, civil society, economic and social standards. V4 Group under presidency of Hungary wants to increase cooperation between Croatia and future members based on share of experiences of Croatia. ( Visegrad Group, 2013) From this first pillar we see that V4 countries as one group and as a common priority have quite high interest in supporting of future members in Western Balkan to join EU. We see that they are willing to initiate various programs and even establish special Western Balkan Fund so they can effectively support future EU members in implementing EU requirements for membership. It is visible that they are not just interested to technically help them in implementing standards for EU membership but also to support their regional cooperation as it can contribute to stability in region.
Other five pillars of V4 common policies towards Western Balkan are related to specific states and issues. One of them is related to Serbia. V4 has big interest in cooperating with Serbia as a future EU member. Cooperation is based on first pillar which we explained. Visegrad Group sees Serbia as important future EU member as it is country with biggest population in Western Balkan, biggest by size and has good location. ( Telegraf.rs, 2013) In 2012 V4 was suspecting on orientation of new Serbian leadership. Current leadership was elected in 2012. Parties such as Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) governed Serbia during 90ies and had very nationalistic and anti-European policies which contributed to escalation of conflict among former Yugoslav republics and a rebellion in Serbian province of Kosovo. Since 2000 Serbia is governed by pro-European democratic parties (Democratic Party) and Serbia expressed will to become member of EU and contribute to peace and stability in region.
In 2012 SNS and SPS created new government and V4 was afraid that new government can initiate Pro Russian policies, slow down EU integration of Serbia, block negotiations with self-proclaimed Kosovo state and destabilize region. V4 decided to motivate Serbian leadership in European policies. Firstly leaders of V4 in Warsaw agreed that if Serbian government performs effectively in normalization of relations with Kosovo they will propose beginning of negotiations on accession with EU Commission at the beginning of 2013. (SAC, 2012) During 2013 Serbia did great success in its road towards EU membership. Many successful negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo contributed to stabilization in the region. Serbia agreed on community of Se...