Security Challenges from the Western Balkans

Security Challenges from the Western BalkansThe war between Russia and Ukraine, the armed conflicts in North Kosovo, the South Caucasus, and most recently the Middle East have woken the European Union from its enlargement slumber.These events highlighted the vulnerability of the European continent to external factors.In this geopolitical context, it has become clear that integrating the Western Balkan countries into the EU is timely.Considering the socio-economic, political, cultural and historical background of the countries in the region, it can be established that the EU has reached its civilisational limits.It took many years for most of the countries in the region to obtain candidate status and start accession negotiations with the EU.On the one hand, this is due to the long-term effects of the South Slavic war in the 1990s (social and economic instability, ethnic tensions, political instability).On the other hand, this is partly due to the EU's enlargement fatigue.While the countries of the region have primarily an economic interest in accession, the EU needs to consider geopolitical and security policy aspects in order to maintain the stability of its own borders and the continent and preserve its position in global politics.1 The European Union's main expectations towards the Western Balkan countries are full compliance with accession chapters 23 and 24, including the fight against organised crime and corruption.The countries of the Western Balkans require substantial assistance in the fight against organised crime and corruption, necessitating the development of region-specific strategies.A new political and social dialogue is needed, rather than exacerbating existing tensions and divisions. SZAKPOLITIKAI ELEMZÉSEK 2024. II. FÉLÉVparticular the fulfilment of the European Commission's annual report, chapters 23 and 24.These chapters form the basis for accession negotiations.The pace of negotiations with EU candidates will mainly depend on the progress made in implementing rule of law reforms.If no progress is made in these chapters, no positive movement can be expected in the EU integration process, which could result in an even more serious setback.As President-in-Office of the EU Council, Hungary will not only have the opportunity to boost the accession process of the Western Balkans but also to put the region's concerns at the top of the EU's political agenda, in line with the criteria for accession to the EU.Hungary, as a neighbouring state of the EU and the countries of the region, can play a key role in keeping these states on the EU's integration path.This is also in the foreign and security policy interests of Hungary and the continent.2 Furthermore, during its EU Presidency, Hungary may have the opportunity to draw attention to the geopolitical and security risks of the Western Balkan countries remaining outside the EU, including organised crime and corruption, migration, the spread of disinformation, and the strengthening influence of China, Russia and Gulf countries in the region.These threats were also highlighted in the European Parliament resolution of 15 December 2021, on cooperation in the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans. 3 In the policy paper, the concept of security policy has been used in a narrower sense, understanding security challenges as the management, detection and prevention of law enforcement-related security risks.The focus is on the analysis of the most prevalent forms of organised crime and corruption in the countries of the region and beyond their borders.The aim of the document is to draw attention to the narrowly defined security policy issues that have a major impact not only on the security of the region and the countries of the EU but also on the course of EU integration of the states in the region and to formulate proposals for effective management of these problems. Problem map -Security challenges in the Western BalkansDuring the South Slavic war in the 1990s, organised crime and corruption flourished in the region.Smuggling was the main source of livelihood for the 2 Zsivity 2023a: 105.