The Court of Auditors of the European Union published this Monday, January 10, a damning report for the 27.
This institution means that the 700 million euros spent by the EU between 2014 and 2020 to promote the rule of law in six Balkan countries (Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo), in view of a future membership, had only
"little impact"
.
The rule of law is enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and is based on various elements such as legal certainty, equality in law, the fight against corruption and human rights. The application of this principle
"represents an essential and necessary condition for joining the EU",
recalls the Court of Auditors.
If the Court considers, in its report, that real
"reforms concerning technical and operational questions"
have been put in place, it indicates that European aid for "
fundamental reforms in the matter of the rule of law in the region"
was not effective. It notes that these six countries have made little progress in promoting the independence of a justice system which is still subject to political interference and in combating the concentration of powers and corruption. As for freedom of expression, it has made even less progress, underlines the report.
The Court denounced
"insufficient political will on the part of the national authorities to carry out the necessary reforms"
and
"limited administrative capacities"
, but also noted a lack of follow-up by the European authorities on the destination of the 700 million euros allocated.
The auditors of the Court of Auditors regret that the financing of Brussels is granted in an
"inconsistent"
way .
The failure of this policy, based on financial transfers, calls into question the capacity of the European Union to export its democratic model to its borders.
The influence of China and Russia.
This harsh criticism could further delay the accession to the European Union of Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Such an assumption risks increasing the frustration of these nations, and pushing them to turn to notorious adversaries of the EU, such as Russia, Turkey or China, who seek to extend their influence in the region.
If the European Union is the first investor in the Balkans, the former enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, had expressed, in 2019, his
"concerns about the socio-economic effects"
of Chinese loans in this region, fearing that recipient countries cannot repay their debts. Russia also wishes to become a more important partner of these countries thanks to Serbia, through which Russian hydrocarbons should transit in the future. Turkey is mobilizing its common history with some of these countries that belonged to the Ottoman Empire to advance its pawns.
French President Emmanuel Macron is well aware of the major stake that this region represents. Previously considered to be one of the most reluctant member countries to join, France has changed its position. In order to fight against
"interference"
from external powers, Emmanuel Macron insisted, during his opening speech of the French presidency of the Union in early 2022, on the importance of a European policy of
"re-engagement"
and
"Reinvestment"
of the Balkans in order to better integrate them economically into the EU. A response to Moscow's aggressive policy on the eastern flank of Europe, from Albania to Ukraine.
This report by the Court of Auditors, which highlights the Union's difficulties in exporting its democracy, is made public while Poland and Hungary are singled out for their lack of respect for the rule of law.