European Union Candidate Research Articles

“Banal Balkanism?” – Rethinking Banal Nationalism and Regional Identity in the Post-Yugoslav Media Space

With the collapse of Yugoslavia, the supranational Yugoslav identity disappeared and was replaced by strengthened national identities. While some states of the former Yugoslavia have rediscovered their Europeanness, others have further strengthened their national identity. This paper answers the question of whether, three decades after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, a so-called “regional identity” still exists among the former Yugoslav states (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo). The authors set the initial hypothesis that belonging to a regional – in this case, Balkan – identity is more pronounced in the five candidate (Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia) and potential candidate countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Kosovo) for European Union (EU) membership than in Slovenia and Croatia, which have become EU Member States. Hence, this article will provide insight into “regional identity” and the banality of “Balkanism” reproduced in state media. By examining articles on national online news portals, we will examine the linkage between symbols and deixes in media and their role in creating national and regional identity. This analysis will confirm our initial hypothesis that the term “regional identity” is much more prominent in the media of the EU candidate countries, than in those states which are already members of the EU. By analysing everyday nationalism in the media – a gap that exists in academic research – we aim to open up a discussion that can lead to some solutions for overcoming the identity dilemmas of the region.

2021 Crisis Preparedness Training: Annual Report

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) undertook two crisis training activities during 2021. Both were facilitated online and based on the fictional scenario of a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak in the European Union (EU). An External Crisis Preparedness Training (ECPT) workshop occurred in July 2021, targeting participants from EU Member States (MSs), EU Agencies and international animal/human health organisations. It was jointly devised, developed and delivered by EFSA with the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’ Abruzzo e del Molise (IZSAM), and has been reported in EFSA Supporting Publications (IZSAM & Instinctif Partners Ltd., 2021). The second workshop, described in this document and designated the Internal Crisis Preparedness Training (ICPT), occurred in November 2021. Using a repurposed version of the ECPT’s RVF scenario, the ICPT’s overall training objective was to plan and practise EFSA’s management of risk communication, in conjunction with other European agencies, during a joint urgent response to a multi-country animal health/public health outbreak. Fourteen participants from EFSA, EFSA’s Communications Expert Network (CEN) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) attended the training, plus 13 observers from EFSA and the European Commission’s (EC’s) Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE). Plenary and working group activities extended across 1 day, including 3 presentations on EFSA’s and ECDC’s remits, capabilities and communications best practice. A scenario exercise explored how EU agencies and DG SANTE would respond and collaborate if RVF entered the EU. The fictional scenario’s 3 escalating outbreak phases spanned several weeks, encompassing infection spread amongst animal and human populations within several MSs and an EU candidate country. Plenary debrief sessions distilled both events’ discussions into practical recommendations for future enhancements and improvements in areas of collaboration, process and communication. The objectives of each event were achieved, based on recorded outcomes and evaluative feedback from participants.

Who Are Belgrade’s Most Desired Allies?

Serbia presents itself as a country skillfully balancing between the European Union (EU), Russia, and Asia, trying to maintain good political and economic relations with the biggest players on the international arena. The Covid-19 pandemic and China’s media-publicized assistance to Serbia has affected the perception of which countries are seen as Belgrade’s true allies. At the same time, Serbia remains a EU candidate country (membership negotiations officially started in 2014) and the European Union is not only Serbian biggest trading partner, but also the biggest donor. The main aim of the article is to compare the distinctive meaning that EU membership and cooperation with non-EU countries (mainly China and Russia) has for Serbian political parties, taking into account that the Covid-19 pandemic and the ‘vaccine diplomacy’ influenced the Serbian public discourse and perception on who is the Belgrade’s most trustful partner.

National Energy and Climate Planning in Serbia: From Lagging Behind to an Ambitious EU Candidate?

Just in the immediate neighbourhood of the European Union (EU), the Republic of Serbia, one of the Western Balkan (WB) EU candidate countries, is lagging behind in the process of energy transition regardless of technological advances and policy instruments available. The EU created a momentum for energy transition acceleration with the European Green Deal, which has been forwarded to the WB through the Energy Community secretariat in the form of the Green Agenda; generally speaking, response in the form of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) is expected in the short term. The Republic of Serbia’s Low Carbon Development Strategy with Action Plan (LCDSA) and the current Energy Strategy will be analysed, commented on, and improvements will be suggested for the acceleration of energy transition, based on the newest findings from the simulation-based optimization techniques using the sector coupling approach to achieve ambitious variable renewable energy shares. The motivation of this research is to provide decision makers in Serbia with the best available insights regarding sustainable energy system planning tools and possible shortcuts for delayed planning of activities. In addition, the purpose is to improve Serbia’s chance of benefitting from adoption of these strategies in the country’s faster transition towards EU membership. The research compares two scenarios to illustrate a possible policy shift from small hydro power plants to photovoltaics (PV). A further increase in PV and wind power plants has been simulated using the EnergyPLAN to achieve expected scenarios of 40% renewable energy share and some more ambitious ones—up to 80%, which is realistic only with the sector coupling approach.

An assessment of regulation, education practices and socio-economic perceptions of non-native aquatic species in the Balkans

Alongside climate change, the introduction of non-native species (NNS) is widely recognized as one of the main threats to aquatic biodiversity and human wellbeing. Non-native species and biodiversity are generally low priority issues on the political agendas of many countries, particularly in European countries outside the European Union (EU). The objectives and tasks of this study were to address the policy regulation, education level, education practices, and socioeconomic perceptions of NNS in the Balkans. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey (Balkan EU candidate and potential candidate members), in Croatia and Greece (Balkan EU Member States) and Italy (non-Balkan EU Member State). The EU Alien Regulation (1143/2014) concerning NNS is implemented in EU Member States and Montenegro, whereas Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey have not reported specific policy regulations for NNS. Permanent monitoring programmes specifically designed for NNS have not yet been established in the EU Member States. Most countries tackle the issue of NNS through educational activities as part of specific projects. Education level is indicative of the implementation of NNS policy regulation, and efforts are needed for the proper development of relative study programmes. Public awareness and educational preparedness concerning NNS in the Balkans were identified as poor. Strong programmes for management and education should be developed to increase public awareness to prevent further biodiversity losses in the Balkan region.

Pharmaceutical policies in post-communist Albania: Progress and challenges toward European Union membership

Aim: Shifting from a communist regime to a democratic system has affected health system fundamentally in most of the Western Balkan countries including Albania. Albania became a European Union (EU) candidate country in 2014. Since then, one of the main concerns has been to approximate the legislation with the EU framework. The aim of this paper is to review the evolvement of pharmaceutical legislation in Albania and challenges toward achieving full approximation to the EU’s respective legislation. Methods: We used qualitative techniques, especially means of conventional content analysis and two sources to collection data. First, we consulted the Albania’s National Publications Office webpage and analysed all available legislation regarding “pharmacy”, “medicine” and “pharmaceutical products” from 1994 to 2021. Then, we analysed the National Integration Plans that have been published by the Government of Albania from 2014 to 2021. Results: The decrease of the price margin system goes in parallel with the increase of the pharmaceutical expenditure, including out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines and lack of adequate and sensitive reimbursement policies. The main pillars of the pharmaceutical sector in Albania are well-covered legally but not fully in concordance with the EU framework. Conclusion: There is a need to foster laws implementation that regulate the opening of pharmacies; a detailed regulation on pharmacovigilance; and a regulation on medicinal products for paediatric use. Also, the existing legal framework should be aligned with the European one. Medicine pricing methods should go in the same line with the decrease of out-of-pocket expenditure.

Linkage, Leverage, and Authoritarianism: An Overview of the Collapse of Turkey’s EU Membership Prospect

The effects of the linkage and the leverage over countries that either go through a democratic transition or further advance on the democratization path have been widely discussed by comparative democratization scholars. Western leverage designates governments’ level of vulnerability in the face of foreign pressure for democratization, while linkage is meant to be the intensity of the connections and the cross-border streams between a democratizing country and the Western world. It is generally acknowledged that the linkage is a more determinative factor than the leverage. On the contrary, the authoritarian shifts of many countries that took place during the first two decades of the 21st century challenged the optimistic and deterministic role assigned to linkage. Turkey is a noteworthy example in this regard since the intensity of its linkage to Europe could not compensate the negative effects of a declining leverage over Turkish democratization since 2006. The argument that linkage matters more than leverage does not apply to Turkey. The evolution of domestic political regimes in European Union candidate countries in parallel with their accession processes constitutes separate cases differing from one another. Turkey is not only a separate case for its part, but also a unique one.

Avrupa ülkelerinin sağlık göstergeleri ve sağlık harcamalarının kümeleme analizi ile karşılaştırılması

The main purpose of health systems is to ensure citizens utilize the health services by adequately and effectively. As the quantity and the quality of health services are improved, health indicators such as quality of life and life expectancy at birth are also improved. Health indicators and health care expenditures allow policy makers to compare health systems and to monitor and evaluate the current situation of the health systems. The main reason behind the international comparison of health indicators and expenditures is to enable countries to benchmark successful health systems. In this context, the aim of this study was to compare health indicators and health expenditures of 28 European Union (EU) countries, 6 EU candidate countries and 3 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries by cluster analysis method. As a result of the clustering analysis, the countries were grouped under 3 clusters. The public, private and out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita averages of the first cluster, which Turkey was included in, was the lowest among three clusters. It was determined that the cluster in which Turkey was placed falled behind other two clusters in terms of life expectancy at birth, number of physicians and nurses, maternal mortality rate, and smoking ratio health indicator averages.

European Union’s enlargement fatigue: Russia’s and China’s rise in Southeast Europe?

Enlargement fatigue has descended upon the European Union (EU) institutions, which remain focused on resolving the Brexit crisis and ongoing internal reforms. This multi-faceted phenomenon has directly caused the so-called accession fatigue in potential EU members, which are increasingly turning to other geopolitical alternatives. Russia and China are the new dominant powerbrokers in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, courting political and business elites in EU candidate states and offering an alternative foreign policy option which contrasts with the stalled EU enlargement process. This paper discusses the rise of these external powers in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, suggesting three scenarios for the future of the Balkan region where the EU, Russia and China are more vigorously vying for influence than ever before.

Agricultural Trade Competitiveness of EU Candidate Countries and Eastern Partnership Countries

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine agricultural trade competitiveness of EU candidate countries (CCs) and Eastern Partnership countries (EPCs) compared to Polish agriculture, based on available 1992–2017 EUROSTAT and FAOSTAT data. Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper uses selected indicators of trade competitiveness. Findings: The study attempts to tell which of the countries covered are in a position to become competitive in European Union (EU) markets. As shown by the calculated competitiveness indicators, compared to Polish agriculture (which is competitive in respect of many agri-food products), some of the countries surveyed are also likely to become competitive players in the Union market. Due to increasing specialization indicator, Belarus and Ukraine are well positioned to become competitive in the dairy market. The market for cereals is dominated by three countries: Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia which demonstrate high levels of SI, CR and XRCA. In turn, the largest group of countries covered by this analysis specialize in fruit and vegetable exports, and are likely to attain the highest competitiveness levels in that very market. Practical Implications: The study of the foreign trade competitiveness using statistical methods is an important element in testing economic theories in the field of competitiveness research in the CCs and EPCs and it shows which countries may become competitive in the future in the EU market. Originality/Value: Showing the importance of foreign trade in the CCs and EPCs with the EU we can observe its impact on the future integration process of the CCs and EPCs. The results of the research are important from the point of view of the contribution to the economy of European integration, both in theoretical and empirical terms, but above all in the field of sectoral policy, which is the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A comprehensive approach to the subject of research and its multidirectional nature, as well as the obtained results will be important both for the agricultural policy of the studied countries, as well as for the CAP and for the Polish agriculture.

Should Iceland Seek Europen Union and Euro Area Membership?

Iceland is a small, resource rich country in Europe that is highly dependent on foreign trade. According to the World Bank classifications, Iceland is a high income economy, but with a population of a little bit more than 300 thousand inhabitants, is the smallest economy within the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Iceland is highly dependent on foreign trade, especially on trade with the European Union, where economic and political integration is evolving and the question about the most feasible level of participation is a future challenge for the country. Iceland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Schengen area, and the European Union (EU) candidate country until recently, when its government decided to withdraw its EU membership application. Currently, the EEA agreement ensures Iceland access to the EU common market. The question remains, what is the most feasible arrangement for Iceland’s prosperity in the long term? Should it continue to rely on the current arrangement? Should it seek the EU membership in the future and, perhaps, subsequently become part of the Euro Area? What are the possible benefits and disadvantages for Iceland joining the EU and the Euro Area?

Uslovi i rezultati promena propisa u oblasti životne sredine - dvadeset godina od početka procesa evropeizacije u Republici Srbiji

The Europeanization process, conceived as harmonisation of national regulations with EU legislation, is a complex process which is marked by various socioeconomic and political conditions. For more than nine years, the Republic of Serbia (RS) has been a European Union (EU) candidate country. In response to the defined objectives, the process of preparing and adopting regulations has been partly changed in the RS. However, the procedure still does not provide full perception and consideration of the specific conditions and possibilities of the RS economy and the society. In addition, the harmonization and implementation process has been facing a number of other challenges. Taking the example of environmental legislation of the RS and evaluating the conditions under which environmental laws were prepared and implemented, the paper explains the effects and limitations of the Europeanization process. The data show that there are some results in the harmonization and implementation of regulations that are in line with EU regulations. Almost all key environmental laws have been adopted, as well as a large number of bylaws. However, the huge implementation costs represent one of the long-term obstacles to achieving the goals of Europeanization.

Relationship with the European Union: Slovenia and Montenegro Compared

Abstract As part of former Yugoslavia and non -members of the Eastern Bloc, Slovenia and Montenegro enjoyed a special status and relationships with the European Communities (EC) before most other socialist countries. Economic and social interactions with the EC and its member states thus formed part of Slovenian and Montenegrin life even during socialism, particularly after Yugoslavia signed special agreements on trade relations with the EC in the 1970s and 1980s. In this respect, Europeanisation as ‘practical’ integration with the EC was closely linked with liberalisation processes concerning the economy, society and politics along with democratic transition processes that began in the late 1980s. When Slovenia joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 following a relatively smooth integration process, Montenegro was still holding EU candidate member status, after having officially started its accession negotiations in June 2012. The article analyses selected development and integration aspects of Slovenia and Montenegro, their relationship with the EU, together with their similarities and differences. The aim is to highlight developments in both countries and determine whether Slovenia, as an ex -Yugoslav republic and EU member since 2004, may serve as a good example for Montenegro to follow while pursuing European integration.

COVID-19 Pandemi Döneminde Enflasyonun Belirleyicileri: Avrupa Ülkeleri Üzerine Bir Mekansal Panel Veri Analizi

Aim: The recent macroeconomic problems in the global economy are highly related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since the highest spread of the disease is observed in the European countries, it is worthwhile to investigate the macroeconomic indicators in the European Union (EU) member and the candidate countries. Inflation is one of the most important indicators to examine since it may directly affect many macroeconomic variables. In this study, the determinants of inflation in the 28 EU members and candidate states are investigated.
 Material and Methods: In this study, the determinants of inflation in the 28 EU members and candidate states are investigated for January 2020-July 2020 using spatial panel data analysis.
 Results: The empirical results indicated that the exchange rate and money supply ratios were reasons of the increase in inflation. There is also increasing pressure on the inflation rates due to the domestic money supply and exchange rate variables as well as the neighborhood relations between countries (positive spatial effects).
 Conclusion: It is an important finding that macroeconomic problems in each sample country are also affected by developments in neighboring countries as well as internal dynamics. Continuous development of economic, social, and political cooperation between neighboring countries at the regional level is essential. It is reasonable for every country to develop self-sufficient strategies in the fields of agriculture, food, technology, and pharmaceutical industries in case of global disasters. Regional cooperation should not be limited to the development of sectors that stand out during the pandemic period.

The Obstacles of Serbia in Obtaining the European Union Membership Status

<p>The European Union (EU) is an intergovernmental and supranational organization enlarging its membership since its formation. Due to the benefits, neighboring European countries are volunteering to join the EU. One of the EU candidate member countries is Serbia. In the process of gaining the status of EU candidate country, Serbia has faced many challenges and yet to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria as the conditions of membership by transforming and strengthening democracy. In the economic field, it is struggling to develop free markets and the rule of law. Serbia has collaborated with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to process the war criminals in the past. Serbia succeeded in obtaining the status of candidate membership of the EU on March 1, 2012, which then became its new chapter. </p>

A statistical analysis of municipal waste treatment types in European countries

In today’s world, the municipal waste management is becoming a main concern for every country and city. In environmental problems, how to collect and eliminate the municipal waste is extremely important. Different countries take different approaches towards the elimination of municipal waste and try to create policies. In this study, municipal waste treatment types for European Union (EU) and EU candidate countries is investigated. The data is taken from a report of EUROSTAT about municipal waste treated in European Union (EU) and EU candidate countries for 2012. There are 4 variables which form how municipal waste is treated in these countries. These variables are called as Recycled, Composted, Landfilled and Incinerated. Using correspondence analysis as a main statistical technique with the help of cluster analysis, a classification of the countries according to municipal waste treatment types is created.

What is the health-related burden of EU-Candidate Countries? A snapshot of public health indicators

Abstract Background Various studies have shown the ebb of the political spectrum when determining entry into the European Union. The objective of this study was to determine the key differences between the European Union (EU) and the current EU-candidate countries through the lens of the financial burden of the public healthcare system. Methods The most complete and available EUROSTAT data describing health-related burden (13 indicators) for current EU- candidate countries (Serbia, Turkey, the Republic of North Macedonia and Montenegro) were evaluated and compared. Results Total health expenditures (Purchasing Parity Power) per capita in EU candidate countries is almost one-third of that in the EU. General government health expenditure for all four countries was below the EU average with Montenegro spending the highest and North Macedonia spending the least. Turkey, with a significantly higher gross domestic product (GDP), allocated the smallest percentage of its GDP on health (4.31%), while Serbia the highest percentage (8.55%), both being below the EU average (10%). The private health expenditure for all of the countries was higher than the EU average, with Serbia's proportion being double that of the EU average. Assessing the burden of disease for these countries, Serbia has the highest disability-adjusted life years (DALY) rate per 100,000 (25,468.38), while the average DALY rate of the other three countries was 23,656.33 and the EU average was 16,390. Turkey and North Macedonia tying for the highest infant mortality rate, three times the EU average. Of the candidate countries, Serbia contains the highest density of physicians and nurses and Turkey, the lowest. Conclusions The process of entry to the EU is a varied experience for each country since attaining benchmark standards affects the time needed to achieve them. This study on a selected number of public health indicators contributes to the evidence on the current health-related burden of EU-candidate countries. Key messages All EU candidate countries have a much higher burden of disease and a much lower health workforce and health expenditure than the EU average. The challenge for countries in the accession process is to reach a level of quality and achievement in health care in the EU.

So alike, yet so different: Comparing fiscal multipliers across EU members and candidates

We estimate, using a Panel Vector Autoregressive approach and data from 2001Q1 to 2017Q1, the fiscal multipliers of the European Union (EU) members and candidates. These countries are grouped according to their stages of integration: original members, new Eurozone members, and candidates for the Eurozone and the EU itself. For each group, we assess the impact of a positive spending shock (expansionary) or a positive tax shock (contractionary) on GDP. Our findings suggest that: (i) rising government spending increases GDP in both the EU and Eurozone candidates (Keynesian multipliers), but slightly decreases it in the Eurozone members (non-Keynesian multipliers); (ii) higher taxes are associated with mixed results in terms of GDP dynamics - both increases and decreases in terms of GDP are found - in the four country groups (suggesting the presence of Keynesian and non-Keynesian multipliers). Overall, these outcomes indicate that spending multipliers are, compared to tax multipliers, more sensitive to European Union or Eurozone membership.

Impact of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on Health Data Management in a European Union Candidate Country: A Case Study of Serbia

As of May 2018, all relevant institutions within member countries of the European Economic Area are required to comply with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or face significant fines. This regulation has also had a notable effect on the European Union (EU) candidate countries, which are undergoing the process of harmonizing their legislature with the EU as part of the accession process. The Republic of Serbia is an example of such a candidate country, and its 2018 Personal Data Protection Act mirrors the majority of provisions in the GDPR. This paper presents the impact of the GDPR on health data management and Serbia’s capability to conduct international health data research projects. Data protection incidents reported in Serbia are explored to identify common underlying causes using a novel taxonomy of contributing factors across aspects and health system levels. The GDPR has an extraterritorial application for the non-EU data controllers who process the data of EU citizens and residents, which mainly affects private practices used by medical tourists from the EU, public health care institutions frequented by foreigners, as well as expatriates, dual citizens, tourists, and other visitors. Serbia generally does not have well-established procedures to support international research collaborations around its health data. For smaller projects, contractual arrangements can be made with health data providers and their ethics committees. Even then, organizations that have not previously participated in similar ventures may require approval or support from health authorities. Extensive studies that involve multisite data typically require the support of central health system institutions and relevant research data aggregators or electronic health record vendors. The lack of a framework for preparation, anonymization, and assurance of privacy preservation forces researchers to rely heavily on local expertise and support. Given the current limitation and potential issues with the legislation, it remains to be seen whether the move toward the GDPR will be beneficial for the Serbian health system, medical research, protection of personal data and privacy rights, and research capacity. Although significant progress has been made so far, a strategic approach is needed at the national level to address insufficient resources in the area of data protection and develop the personal data protection environment further. This will also require a targeted educational effort among health workers and decision makers, aiming to improve awareness and develop skills and knowledge necessary for the workforce.

Inflation Convergence over Time: Sector-Level Evidence within Europe

This paper investigates inflation convergence among European countries by using sector-level data for the period between 1997:M1 and 2019:M12. Panel unit root tests at the country-sector level are conducted by using moving windows, which is useful to analyze changes in inflation convergence and the corresponding speed of convergence over time. The results suggest evidence for inflation convergence for the majority of sectors within Europe, although disruptions have been experienced by certain countries, especially during the 2008 financial crisis. Regarding the speed of inflation convergence, the average half-life across European countries has decreased from about 15 months to about 8 months during the sample period. Important sector-level implications follow for European Union (EU) candidate countries and non-euro EU member countries regarding the Maastricht Treaty.