EN 
NL 
Source: Shutterstock
It was not to be missed, the NATO summit in The Hague last week. With security on high alert in The Hague, tensions in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, there was plenty to discuss around the forums. Besides the 5% NATO standard, it was reiterated that Russia is the biggest threat to NATO countries. What was less, or actually not in the news was the European summit on 26 and 27 June, followed by the accession conference with Montenegro on 27 June. The Western Balkans have been sitting in the waiting room with little prospect for the future since the beginning of this century. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, EU expansion seemed to be gaining momentum, but thanks to the rise of the far-right, this has been thwarted to date, as these first of all, do not even see Russia as a threat AND do not believe in a stronger European Union. Painful, especially when European security is at the top of the agenda.
Key to European security in Western Balkans
The key to European security lies in the Western Balkans. Support from NATO and the European Union is needed, to protect these countries from foreign interference and autocratic influences, such as from Russia and China. Therefore, when talking about European security, the Western Balkans are indispensable in this dialogue.
And because of Russia's growing threat in the European Union, it is all the more curious that there is not even more investment in EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. There are annual country reports and public support from the European Commission, but actual, strong actions towards accession are lacking. And it is precisely accession that is essential for the countries, as there is no other option, other than Russia. Future plans are needed, not only for the accession of countries like Albania and Montenegro, but also for the European Union itself. What does the EU itself want to look like in 10 years? To become or remain a strong world power, a strong vision of the future is needed.
Future vision from the Social Democrats
With the far right increasingly taking power both inside and outside Europe, it is important to protect democracy and European values and strengthen European security. Europe is now realising that it needs to stand on its own feet. So one of the ways to ensure European security is to invest in the European accession of the Western Balkans. This is something the social democrats are actively working on. But, they still have little success in making their mark on the EU's vision of the future, while conservative and radical right forces present EU demolition as a clear goal. This is something we need to work on. Of course, this is easier said than done, as there are complex questions to be answered. Do European institutions need to be reformed? And what should these look like? Should this happen before or after new member states join? Or is reform not necessary at all? Space should be created within the party(ies) to discuss this and come up with a vision. Especially with the upcoming elections in the Netherlands.
Conclusion
European security must be protected and this is only possible by taking steps towards enlarging the European Union to include the countries of the Western Balkans. They are the heart of Europe and the bearers of the Union's protection. It is therefore all the more important to involve the countries in the EU. This requires a vision for the future, especially from the European Social Democrats. From the Dutch party GroenLinks-PvdA, which advocates a stepwise accession, there is also a proactive attitude, but sometimes a long-term direction for the EU in general is missing. By being actively engaged in the future of the EU, Europe is stronger in the world and Green Left Labour Party is prepared also with a view to the upcoming elections.
The reason for this article is the advice written by Yza Schraal (NHL Stenden), to advise Foundation Max van der Stoel on their role in Albania and Montenegro's accession to the EU. The whole report is this page read in English.
