Transference of EU Integration Model from East-Central Europe to the Western Balkans

TEAM-WB – PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-0608 – sponsored by UEFISCDI

A research project implemented between January 2021 and January 2024 by a team from the Faculty of European Studies of Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adrian Corpădean, project manager

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura Herța
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paula Mureșan
• Lect. Dr. Mihaela Oprescu
• Assoc. Prof. Delia Pop-Flanja
• Lect. Dr. Elena Grad-Rusu
• PhD student Diana Gligor

Project summary:

The general objective of the project is to develop and implement an interdisciplinary Model of transference of the EU integration experience from the East-Central European member states to the candidate countries in the Western Balkans (Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia), within a team of experienced and young scholars. The Model includes a toolset on the transference of the EU integration experience of ECE, with its specific regional challenges, meant to assess the likelihood of improving the administrative capacity of the WB candidate countries, amid the protracted negotiation process with the European Commission.

The specific objectives and outputs of the project are:

SO1. To assess the progress of the integration files and the specific regional advantages and shortcomings of the four EU candidate countries from the WB with the involvement of the research team from the FES (WP1). Outputs: 2 roundtables with international participation and 2 scientific articles (ERIH Plus / Scopus).

SO2. To perform an analysis of the EU negotiation and integration experience of the ECE member states in the areas where there is potential for transference of best/worst practice, within a comparative study (WP2). Outputs: 2 roundtables with international participation and 2 scientific articles (ERIH Plus / Scopus).

SO3. To create and disseminate the Model of transference of the EU integration experience from the ECE member states to the candidate countries in the WB, in the ECE/WB regional academic community and with decision-makers and civil society representatives in the area of European integration from the WB candidate countries (WP3). Outputs: an international conference for the dissemination of the Model and a book published at a prestigious international house.

Project events:

• October 29th 2021 – Roundtable: What methodological tools for the study of EU integration of the Western Balkans? (link: https://euro.ubbcluj.ro/roundtable-what-methodological-tools-for-the-study-of-eu-integration-of-thewestern-balkans/)
• November 2021 – Interviews in Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia
• November 19th 2021 – Roundtable: Perceptions of EU integration in the Western Balkans (link: https://euro.ubbcluj.ro/wp-content/uploads/Call-roundtable-on-methodology-2-PCE-2021.pdf)
• Octomber 2022 – Interviews at the European Commission (Brussels) and with decision-makers from Central-Eastern Europe
• 4 November 2022 – Roundtable:  Methods of accessing EU-WB negotiations: a multidisciplinary endeavour (https://euro.ubbcluj.ro/methods-of-accessing-eu-wb-negotiations-a-multidisciplinary-endeavour)
• 11 November 2022 – Roundtable: The state of integration of the Western Balkans. Views from Brussels (https://euro.ubbcluj.ro/the-state-of-integration-of-the-western-balkans-views-from-brussels)
• 23 November 2023 – International Conference Transference of the EU Integration Model from East-Central Europe to the Western Balkans  (https://euro.ubbcluj.ro/october-20th-2023-transference-of-the-eu-integration-model-from-east-central-europe-to-the-western-balkans/)

Articles:

• Adrian-Gabriel Corpădean, Mihaela-Adriana Oprescu, „Les fonds de pré-adhésion : quelle leçon a-t-on apprise des pays de l’Europe centrale-orientale pour les Balkans occidentaux?”, in Synergies Roumanie, nr. 17/2022, Gerflint, Paris.
• Antoanela-Paula Mureșan, Elena Grad-Rusu, „Pour l’élargissement de l’Union européenne. Opinions des spécialistes macédoniens et albanais visant le processus d’adhésion et le transfert de l’expérience des pays de l’Europe centrale-orientale”, in Synergies Roumanie, nr. 17/2022, Gerflint, Paris.
• Laura-Maria Herța, Delia Pop-Flanja, „Le rôle des organisations de la société civile en Roumanie avant l’adhésion à l’Union européenne. Un modèle à suivre pour la Serbie et le Monténégro?”, in Synergies Roumanie, nr. 17/2022, Gerflint, Paris.
• Antoanela-Paula Mureșan, Elena Grad-Rusu, „L’opportunité des fonds de pré-adhésion à l’UE. Comparaisons entre l’Europe centrale et orientale et les Balkans occidentaux. Étude de cas – leçons tirées de l’expérience de la Roumanie”, in Synergies Roumanie, no. 16/2021, Gerflint, Paris.
• Adrian-Gabriel Corpădean, Mihaela-Adriana Oprescu, „Une perspective juridique sur l’intégration européenne des Balkans occidentaux. Parallèles avec l’Europe centrale-orientale”, in Synergies Roumanie, no. 16/2021, Gerflint, Paris.
• Laura-Maria Herța, Delia Pop-Flanja, „Public Perception on the Western Balkan States’ Accession to the EU. Social Constructivist Interpretations”, in Studia Europaea, no. 2/2021.

Volume:

• A model of transference of the EU integration experience from East-Central Europe to the Western Balkans (ed. Adrian-Gabriel Corpădean), Lambert Academic Publishing, London, 2023. ISBN 978-620-6-18483-6. 375p.