How has the meaning of 'Europeanization' changed in recent years, particularly concerning the Balkan candidate countries?

The concept of 'Europeanization' is evolving from a straightforward path of adopting EU norms to a more complex and uncertain process. Factors such as the political crisis in Ukraine, Brexit, and internal EU policy disagreements have challenged the idea that EU membership guarantees positive change. Now, engagement with 'Europeanization' requires understanding these limitations and the shifting influence of the EU itself.

What are the key challenges currently impacting the process of 'Europeanization'?

Several factors contribute to the challenges facing 'Europeanization'. These include the rise of populism and identitarian movements, cracks in solidarity between donor and receiver member states, concerns about refugee integration, and fundamental questioning of the EU's core values. These elements complicate the narrative and impact the EU's state-building efforts.

Why is the 'carrot and stick' approach to 'Europeanization' proving less effective?

The 'carrot and stick' approach previously used in 'Europeanization' is less effective now due to internal disagreements within the EU and with candidate countries. National politicians are increasingly prioritizing local concerns over broader commitments to democracy and the rule of law in candidate states. The UK's vote to leave the EU highlights these challenging dynamics.

How are evolving narratives of 'Europeanization' influencing state-building in the Western Balkans, and what are the potential risks?

In the Western Balkans, evolving narratives of 'Europeanization' mean that political actors are tailoring their approaches to domestic expectations. This can result in the creation of 'lean' or 'night watchman' states, which, while seemingly efficient, can be vulnerable to being controlled by powerful groups. Inclusive and sustainable state-building is essential to address the needs of all citizens in this context.

How should studies on 'Europeanization' adapt to the new realities and challenges facing the EU?

Studies on 'Europeanization' need to shift from simply examining policies and changes to understanding the core assumptions about the EU. Researchers should question the idea of Europe as a perpetually stable region and a consistent driver of positive political change. The EU's struggles with financial regulation, economic redistribution, and refugee accommodation illustrate the challenges in its state-building project.

Winding road in the Balkans symbolizing uncertainty and transition in Europeanization.

Navigating Change: How Narratives of Europeanization Impact the Balkans

Beau Callahan in Global Affairs June 2025 • 3 min read.

"Rethinking the European Project in an Era of Uncertainty and Shifting Geopolitics"

In the summer of 2014, as the first signs of strain appeared in the European Union’s approach to the Balkan candidate countries, a project was born to understand these shifts. What began as an inquiry into the EU's role soon evolved into a critical examination of Europeanization itself, amidst political crises, waning enthusiasm for enlargement, and rising skepticism within member states.

The political crisis in Ukraine, anxieties about EU membership, and the UK’s Brexit referendum have all contributed to a sense of uncertainty. Even the attempted coup in Turkey and its aftermath have cast a long shadow, prompting a re-evaluation of the EU's ability to effect positive change in its member, candidate, and neighboring states. These developments challenge the very foundations of the normative framework that underpins the EU project.

This article delves into the changing narratives of Europeanization, exploring the implications for member and candidate states. It questions the assumptions that have long guided the European project and examines how domestic expectations and regional realities are reshaping the EU's state-building efforts in the Western Balkans.

The Shifting Sands of Europeanization

Winding road in the Balkans symbolizing uncertainty and transition in Europeanization.

The idea that EU membership is a one-way ticket to Brussels has been increasingly challenged. The 'carrot and stick' approach has given way to infighting over policy priorities, both within the EU and with candidate countries. National politicians, facing domestic pressures, are focusing on local priorities rather than adhering to superficial commitments to democracy and the rule of law in candidate states. The UK's vote to leave the EU further underscores the challenging dynamics affecting the EU's relationships with its members and aspiring members.

These shifts highlight the limitations of past understandings of the Europeanization process. The earlier waves of EU enlargement were seen as outcomes of democratization, market liberalization, and respect for diversity. However, the current narrative is becoming increasingly complex. As the EU's influence wanes, it's crucial to understand what it means to engage with Europeanization when the agent of change is becoming less defined.

Key Challenges to Europeanization:

Rise of populism and identitarian movements.
Cracks in solidarity between donor and receiver member states.
Concerns about refugee integration.
Questioning the fundamental values of the EU.

Studies on Europeanization must adapt to these new realities. Rather than focusing solely on countries, policies, and changes, research should examine the underlying assumptions about Europe as a crisis-free area and a cogent magnet for positive political change. The EU's lack of a unified voice on financial regulation, economic redistribution, and refugee accommodation exposes the challenges of EU-building as a state-building project.

Navigating the New Landscape

The narratives of Europeanization are evolving, reflecting the complex realities of the Western Balkans. Political entrepreneurs are tailoring their narratives to domestic expectations, creating state institutions that may resemble 'lean' or 'night watchman' states. These states, however, risk being hijacked by powerful actors, including ethnic majorities, marginalized minorities, and uncommitted human rights agents. The path forward requires a nuanced understanding of these dynamics and a commitment to inclusive, sustainable state-building that addresses the needs and concerns of all citizens.