Security Through Integration? The EU Enlargement Process as a Stabilization Tool in South-East Europe

Abstract

For a long time, the European Union has used its enlargement policy to further democratic and stable governments in the South-Eastern part of Europe, and to bring about greater stability and security. The effectiveness of the enlargement policy to achieve these objectives has recently been questioned by Russia’s war in Ukraine, the greater competition from other superpowers (the geopolitics of the situation), and more external influence in the Western Balkans Region. This article will look into whether the enlargement policy can still be used as a credible tool for bringing about peace and stability in the region. This research utilizes qualitative methodology, including document analysis and comparative case study methodology. The research compares the accession experiences of Romania and Bulgaria to those of the current Western Balkan candidate countries' accession experiences and relies upon the theoretical concepts of Democratic Conditionality, Europeanisation, Security Community Theory, and Normative Power Europe to draw comparisons and conclusions. According to these findings, the EU expansion will contribute to improvements in the institutional, legal and regional cooperation structures. Nevertheless, the power of transformation of the EU is reduced by the lack of credibility and the extended period of accession