The European Commission on Enlargment released its 2008 report on the Western Balkans Wednesday. While cautiously optimistic, the report sees only limited to moderate progress among goverments in the region to combat corruption and organized crime. Of the countries evaluated, Croatia received the highest marks for its efforts toward EU accession and continued progress along “political criteria.” Corruption, however, remains a concern, with the report noting that although Croatia's judicial system has increased its number of corruption cases, the number of convictions remains low, and few high-level cases have been undertaken. “A culture of political accountability is lacking,” the report states.
The report makes brief mention of the recent killings in Zagreb that prompted wide concern over the prospects of Croatia's EU bid and comparisons to the new member state of Bulgaria, which has seen its own relationship to the EU deteriorate after severe troubles in its own handling of organized crime.
Macedonia Accession Stalled
Macedonia was cited for improvements to its measures against organized crime and progess in its judicial reform. The country's accession process has stalled, however, because of its persistent corruption and the rash of violence that marred its 2008 parliamentary elections.
Throughout the region, deficiencies in basic law enforcement and the prevalence of organized criminal activity continue to undermine attempts at reform. Money laundering and drug trafficking are described as “serious concerns” in Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo, while the report describes Bosnia and Herzegovina as having made only “limited progess” in its handling of these issues.
--Michael Mehen
EU: Corruption, O.C. Still Strong
Published: 07 November 2008
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