Pollozhani Shehu, Vlona and ADEMI, Arbër (2026) RULE OF LAW CONDITIONALITY AND ITS DISCONTENTS: ASSESSING EU LEGAL REFORMS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS. JUSTICIA International Journal of Legal Sciences, 15 (25-26). pp. 159-164.
![[img]](https://eprints.unite.edu.mk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
Justicia 2026-159-164.pdf Download (315kB) |
Abstract
This paper takes another look at how well the European Union’s rule of law conditionality works in the Western Balkans’ path toward membership. Though once a key driver of change, its impact has faded - mainly because rules are applied unevenly, politics often override principles, and trust in the process is shrinking. Looking closely at Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro reveals a pattern: laws may now match EU standards, yet actual implementation, judicial independence, and responsibility mechanisms still lag behind. Even after updating the strategy with new priorities like “fundamentals first,” deep imbalances between the EU and aspiring countries persist. One consequence is that legal reforms frequently emphasize procedure over real transformation. What follows is an argument: credibility returns only when clear conditions are tied to tangible progress toward membership, when democratic milestones matter more than signatures on paper.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | K Law > K Law (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Law |
| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email zshi@unite.edu.mk |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2026 12:11 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2026 12:11 |
| URI: | http://eprints.unite.edu.mk/id/eprint/2572 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
