Why the Balkan Peoples Must Join the EU!

Many arguments and reasons are put forward as to why the states of Southeast Europe must be admitted into the European Union. All are valid, yet the most important one is rarely discussed. A commentary by Stefan Haböck, International Officer of the Paneuropa Movement Austria.

Security

For reasons of security policy, the states of Southeast Europe (the Western Balkans) must be integrated into the EU. Otherwise, other non-European powers will become too strong there. The Western Balkans is the technocratic term for the states of Southeast Europe that are not yet members of the EU. This includes Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. And security policy considerations are immensely important. Even if this aspect is far too neglected in the EU policies of many member states, and national interests still overshadow pan-European interests.

The Economy

The economic development in these states also depends on access to the common European market. This is also often heard – and again, it is true. Only a strong, broadly based economy can lead Balkan societies to prosperity.

The Reforms

The prospect of EU accession compels the respective governments to undertake reforms. A statement one would gladly underscore. But yes, a certain pressure can be exerted here, and if one looks at numerous advances in these states, then this is also an advantage of potential EU accession that should not be underestimated.

Global Powers and Their Influence on Europe

And finally, the non-European powers who are not at all pleased to see their supposed claims gradually pushed back and European unification advance. Digression: Such claims, of course, cannot exist, as only a crude worldview could assume that someone has a natural right to exercise power in another territory.

However, it is a fact that Russia maintains a special relationship with Serbia and Republika Srpska, having already been sidelined in Montenegro. Turkey, meanwhile, is attempting to implement its vision of Islam in Kosovo and the Albanian part of North Macedonia. This has so far failed due to the resistance of the religiously tolerant population. Not to forget the strong influence of the USA, also on Kosovo. It must be emphasised here that the gratitude of the Albanians is explainable by the fact that the USA saved them from genocide by dictator Milošević – while Europe remained paralysed. The fact that Saudi Arabia is buying up many properties in Bosnia and Herzegovina certainly does not contribute to stabilising the situation there. Not to mention the increasing Chinese investments – coupled with hefty indebtedness of the respective states to the communist autocracy.

All these facts and arguments put forward are correct and coherent. Therefore, they should not be neglected in efforts to bring the states of Southeast Europe into the EU.

The Balkans Are Europe

However, the most important reason receives far too little attention. Thoughts revolve too much around pragmatic and realpolitik issues. Yet, we Paneuropeans, in particular, must emphasise much more strongly what constitutes the starting point of these efforts concerning the Balkans.

At Belgrade Central Cemetery in 2014, Karl von Habsburg and his brother Georg, together with Consul Primus of the Ordo Equestris Vini Europae Alfred Tombor Tintera, laid a wreath: For all fallen soldiers in the First World War.

Namely, quite simply the fact that this region is Europe. That these people are Europeans. The Balkans was and is not only geographically ‘in Europe’, but is a fundamental component of Europe’s heritage, history, tradition, culture, and politics. It would take too long to list all the significant events and sites that have contributed decisively to development in Europe. The ancient finds in Ulpiana near Pristina alone, or North Macedonia’s Ohrid, known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans with its 365 churches, are proof enough.

Paneuropa is All of Europe

Our motto for almost 100 years has been: Paneuropa is all of Europe. This is a clear mandate to support the peoples of the Balkans, if they so wish, with all our might on their path to the EU. For these peoples always were, are, and always will be one thing: Europeans!

Featured image: Ulpiana_Basilica – “The 4th-century AD basilica in Ulpiana, Kosovo”
By Arben Llapashtica – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51947465

Lake Ohrid – Photo: Paneuropa | Haböck

Belgrade_Habsburg – Photo: Dejan Stefanovic | April 2014