European Union’s Policy of ‘Regional Approach’ 1996-1999:The Case of Macedonia

Abstract

This paper analyses the relationship between the European Union and Macedonia in the period 1996-1999. As it is well known, after the Dayton Agreement, in late 1995, the European Union’s Institutions created an important policy shift, conceptualized in the ‘Regional Approach’ toward several Balkan states. Since the beginning, Macedonia has been among the states covered by this regional policy. On the basis of the analysis of the scope of states covered by the ‘Regional Approach’, as well as its characteristics, the author aims to determine the impact this approach had on the position of Macedonia vis a vis the European Union. The evaluation of this impact is facilitated through comparisons with the case of Central and Eastern European states. The author concludes that, despite the low level of general development of Macedonia in the given period of time, the ‘Regional Approach’ was not tailored to suit the Macedonian case. However, this policy did have numerous welcome aspects, which are also considered in this paper.

Key words: European Union foreign policy, Regional Approach, Cooperation Agreement, Western Balkans, Republic of Macedonia