THE IMPACT OF EUROSCEPTICISM ON THE EU ENLARGEMENT POLICY IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

Abstract

The paper examines the approaches of Eurosceptic parties in the European Parliament and the Western Balkans on the EU enlargement policy, studies the level of their influence on decision-making in the European Parliament and the candidate states, and analyzes public opinion and attitudes towards the EU enlargement in the member states and the Western Balkan states. It is argued that party-based Euroscepticism does not have a significant impact on the enlargement policy due to the lack of attention to this area of ​​EU activity of most Eurosceptic parties in the member states and the indecisive influence of such parties on political processes in the candidate states. At the same time, public Euroscepticism on the issue of further enlargement, which tends to increase in both the member states and most of the candidate states in the Western Balkans, can be a restrictive or a limiting factor in the accession of the Western Balkan states to the EU.