The European Union and the Western Balkans (PN20-63)

Through this course, students will learn about the most important principles of relationship development
of the European Union with the countries of the Western Balkan region. Some of the countries in the region had just come out of the war and at the beginning of their relationship with the European Union it was necessary to promote democracy, the rule of law, encourage economic transformation, improve regional cooperation and define the principles of relations with the European Union.
The aim of studying this subject is to introduce students with a series of regional and bilateral activities both between the countries of the region and with the European Union, which serve to ensure stabilization and enable joining the Union, as well as learning about the criteria that must be met along the way.

After listening to the course European Union and the Western Balkans, students will be able to independently
follow the literature and analyze current events in this field. They will understand the process
creation of lasting peace in the region and its main instruments such as the Agreement on
stabilization and association, its provisions, financial assistance for implementation
reforms aimed at the democratization of society and its stabilization and importance of
good neighborly relations in the region in which the European Union invested the most efforts through
building a network of regional initiatives. Students will need knowledge from this subject
facilitate future work because the issues the subject deals with are more than
current and extremely important, both for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the rest of the region.

Development of the idea of European integration;
Relations in the Balkans - between conflict and integration;
The process and stages of the enlargement of the European Union;
Comparative approach of the European Union to other regions in the world;
Enlargement of the European Union and the Western Balkans;
The European perspective of the region (Summit in Portugal, Summit in Zagreb, Summit in
Thessaloniki, Sofia Declaration)
Pre-accession criteria;
Stabilization and Association Process;
Stabilization and Association Agreement (basic features of the Agreement on
stabilization and association between the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans);
The case of Kosovo and European integration;
Economic and financial cooperation of the European Union with the Western Balkans;
Regional initiatives in the Western Balkans (SEECP, RCC, CEI, AII, EUSDR, BP, RYCO, V4, WBF, BBP, MARRI, CEFTA, ISRBC, SELEC);
Regional cooperation in the Western Balkans as an instrument for maintaining peace i
development;
The perspective of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans;
The future of the European Union.

1. Evropska komisija: Vjerodostojna perspektiva proširenja za Zapadni Balkan i pojačano angažovanje EU na Zapadnom Balkanu, (2018) Strazbur;

   (Original)

2. Lopandić, Duško (2017.) Evropska unija i Srbija – novo vreme i novo okruženje, Evropski pokret u Srbiji, Beograd;

   (Original)

3. Lopandić, Duško (2007.) Reforma Evropske unije, Zapadni Balkan i Srbija – zakasnela integracija, Evropski centar za mir i razvoj, Beograd;

   (Original)

4. Spoljnopolitičke sveske 3, Budućnost Evropske unije i Zapadni Balkan – pogled iz Srbije, (2016.) FES, EPS, FMO, Beograd.

   (Original)

5. Izvještaji o godišnjem napretku zemalja regiona Zapadnog Balkana ka Evropskoj uniji koje objavljuje Evropska komisija.

   (Original)

Checking knowledge and determining how active students are in class is done during
the whole semester. Knowledge is checked using two colloquiums, and students' activity is
expressed through writing seminar papers, attending classes regularly, participating in debates,
preparation of presentations and through other forms of creative participation in the teaching process.
In this way, students fulfill pre-examination obligations through which they can acquire 50 points
(two colloquiums 20 points each, seminar work 5 points and regular and active attendance
classes 5 points). The final exam is conducted orally and it tests knowledge from
the entire subject, and carries a maximum of 50 points. The final grade is calculated by adding points from
pre-exam obligations and exam scores.

Lectures and exercises with interactive learning. Interactive learning in groups.
Showing video material and documentaries.
Written seminar papers. Oral comments and short presentations in class.
Consultations.