Week in Review: Ambitious Plans and Even Bigger Problems

Much Ado About Nothing

The EU's new enlargement methodology has been pitched as reinvigorating the accession process, breathing new life and dynamism into it. Yet in the Balkans, it has received a cool and muted response. Many local officials and observers are sceptical, seeing it as just a way to repackage the same old enlargement process in a slightly different way.

In his comment for Balkan Insight, our editor Srecko Latal looks at the ins and outs of the new enlargement approach, but finds little to be excited about. In many ways, the new process could be even more complicated than the old one. Even worse, it primarily caters to the realities of building support for enlargement within the EU, rather than the real needs of the process itself. Time, argues Latal, for the EU to remind itself of why enlargement is good for Europe, not just the Western Balkans.

Read more: New EU Enlargement Strategy Leaves Balkans Unimpressed (February 10, 2020)

No Lack of Ambition

Newly elected prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti (R) inspects the honor guard of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) during the handover ceremony in Pristina, Kosovo, 04 February 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

Kosovo finally has a new government under the leadership of Albin Kurti and it shows no signs of lacking ambition and ideas about how to change Kosovo for the better. A long list of social and economic reforms are on the agenda, as well as fighting corruption and strengthening the rule of law.

All undoubtedly commendable goals with which few would take issue, but is the new government's program realistic and achievable? Our analysis looks at the new government's plans, as well as the hurdles it faces in implementing them. Not...