EU Enlargement & the Western Balkans: Fast Track or Slow Lane Approach?
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Date
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Thursday, 18 March 2010
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Venue
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Thai Theatre, New Academic Building, LSE
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Speakers
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Ingeborg Grässle, Member of the European Parliament, Germany Tanja Fajon, Member of the European Parliament, Slovenia
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Chair
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James Ker-Lindsay Senior Fellow on the Politics of SEE, LSEE, LSE
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A long standing issue for South Eastern Europe, and for Europe as a whole, has been the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union. Although few would now doubt that the region will one day accede to the Union, the key question at this stage is ‘when this is likely to happen?’ With growing concerns about the situation in Bosnia and confusion over the status of Kosovo, not to mention the economic crisis that has befallen the region, there are voices calling for the accession process to be accelerated in order to enhance stability. Others take a different view. The experience of Bulgaria’s and Romania’s accession has left many observers convinced that the EU must adopt a more cautious approach.
In March 2010 LSEE had the privilege to bring together two prominent MEPs to examine these opposing views in great detail. Dr Ingeborg Grässle made the case for a cautious approach, stressing that the new member states must meet the stringent legal and economic preconditions for membership. In contrast, Tanja Fajon argued that the political and economic stability of the region depends on integration - as soon as possible.
PHOTO GALLERY
From left to right: Dr Grässle, MEP for Germany;
Dr James Ker-Lindsay, Senior Research Fellow at LSEE and
Ms Fajon, MEP for Slovenia
Two prominent Members of the European Parliament debate EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans in a packed Thai Theatre
Ms Tanja Fajon, MEP for Slovenia, prepares to make her introductory remarks in support of further EU expansion as a key element in the future stability of the region
Dr Ingeborg Grässle defends her more cautious approach, which calls for greater adherence to EU laws and principles by prospective member states