Original scientific paper
THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF THE EU’S COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY TOWARDS THE WESTERN BALKANS (2001-2006)
Steven Blockmans
Abstract
In the period from 2001 to 2006, the Western Balkans
served as a testing ground for the development of the EU’s Common
Foreign and Security Policy. This paper explores a variety of legal and
political aspects of the EU’s efforts to stabilise the Western Balkans
in an attempt to answer the question about what the EU should have
learned in so doing. Attention is paid to the diplomatic efforts of the
EU to prevent (the escalation of) confl ict in Macedonia, between Serbia
and Montenegro, and in Kosovo. The role and impact of the EU’s
fi rst-ever - and so far biggest - police and military operations are also
evaluated. It is argued that lessons learned from these actions should
be taken to heart before the EU decides to embark on any future missions.
Otherwise, history may prove that the Western Balkans offered
the EU’s one and only chance to develop credible and lasting foreign
policy, security, and defence arrangements.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
28521
URI
Publication date:
3.11.2006.
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