MEĐUNARODNI PROBLEMI

ENLARGEMENT POLICY AND THE WESTERN BALKANS – THE ROLE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE EU IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW ENLARGEMENT METHODOLOGY

BAUEROVÁ Helena (Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations and European Studies, Metropolitan University Prague), helena.bauerova@mup.cz

The presented text analyzes the role of the EU and the Czech Republic (CR) in the Western Balkans in the context of enlargement policy, which has been revised through the new methodology. The research is based on a case study covering a defined period of time. The research premise states that the role of the EU and the Czech Republic in the Western Balkans is shaped by internal and external influences, rather than the specific situation and challenges in the Western Balkans region. The argumentation is based on the role theory and verifies the extent to which the Czech Republic acts as a mediator and regional-subsystem collaborator or bridge within the EU to WB. In the future EU should set out clear and concrete changes that candidate states should make; should clearly define benefits that the state will receive after meeting the requirements and identify clear disadvantages or losses that will follow non-compliance. The author finds that both the EU and the Member States should have a stronger and more dynamic role in the accession process of the candidate countries.

Keywords: Western Balkans, EU enlargement, Czech Republic, role theory, presidency