Nothing is more viral than a political gaffe – just ask Hilary Clinton. But what about EU accession policy? Well, in the Balkans anything goes.
Twenty days ago I wrote a piece about the EU’s policy in the region on ECFR’s website. I recommended “reverse conditionality” – in other words that the
EU should give three countries in the Balkans a date when they can expect to join the EU: Croatia’s could be 2010, Albania’s 2011 and Macedonia’s 2012.
(Though they would only be allowed at these dates if the EU’s aquis communitaire was adopted).
After being picked up by a Macedonian news agency last week, the article led the news on Macedonia TV, and I had to give interviews to numerous Macedonian
newspapers, blogs and TV stations. The day ended with the Macedonia foreign minister writing to my boss and all the ECFR board members, asking for further
support for Skopje’s EU application.
The next day, Albanian and Montenegrin newspapers called to ask why I had rated their country like I had; and why I had left Montegro out.
Sure – Skopje is looking for any sign of support after the country’s rejection for NATO membership at the Bucharest Summit in April. And many august individuals sit on our council. But I’m still amazed at how the article went viral. Brave New World.
