The idea of expansion has been prioritized by the EU since its emergence for obvious reasons. The inclusion of new states that can amount to a powerful force regulating political and economic relationships in Europe allows enhancing the impact that the EU produces, as well as the scale of the said impact. Therefore, the recent initiative concerning the inclusion of Balkan states into the ranks of the EU countries seems reasonable (Brzozowski, 2020). However, due to the complications associated with the alignment of Balkan regulations and standards to those of the EU, the specified step may be considered premature.
Currently, the main arguments in favor of introducing the Balkan countries into the EU environment include the enhancement of unity across Europe, the promotion of economic development, and the enhancement of cross-cultural interactions. The specified arguments hold high significance in the general discourse since they imply that the key goals of globalization can be promoted with the resulting increase in global economic well-being and cross-cultural collaboration (Brzozowski, 2020). However, there are several arguments against the immediate inclusion of the Balkan countries into the EU that need to be addressed as well. Specifically, the crisis that the EU is currently experiencing, is likely to become a major factor in establishing relationships between the Balkan countries and the EU as the latter invites the former to join (Brzozowski, 2020). Namely, the continuous threat of the COVID-19, as well as the financial and economic crisis caused by the lockdown and the associated events, will affect the judgments of both the EU and the Balkan states when making the crucial choice of integration.
To conclude, the process of accepting the Balkan states into the EU should not be rushed. Although integration is inevitable due to the increasing need for enhanced economic and political collaboration, the pressure of the current circumstances may lead to both parties making errors in their judgment. With the specified outcomes, the role of the Balkan states in the EU will be misplaced, and the partnership between the specified parties may be misarranged.
Reference
Brzozowski, A. (2020). Commission seeks to revive enlargement with new package. EU Activ. Web.