THE ROCKY ROAD TO EU ACCESSION FOR WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES:

The stagnating share of the EU27 in trade with the WB, and the moderate pace of convergence, provide the economic motivation for our analysis and for exploration of a possible connection to the legal regime set out in the SAAs. [...] For the purpose of making comparisons, the Serbia SAA13 will be the reference point for the WB SAAs, while the Ukraine AA/DCFTA14 is referred to to exemplify the agreements the EU concluded with the eastern European partners. [...] A core difference and shortcoming of the WB structures, compared to the relationship between the EU and the EaP countries, is the absence of civil-society involvement in the framework of implementing the agreements. [...] While dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation characterise the work of the RCC, its success is limited because of the participation of countries beyond the WB, including the geopolitical rival Turkey, which limits the possibility for this governance framework to focus on the specific concerns of the WB countries in relation to the EU. [...] This approximation shall start on the date of signing of this Agreement, and shall gradually extend to Art 124: "The Parties recognise the importance of the approximation of Ukraine's all the elements of the Community acquis referred to in this Agreement by the end of the transitional existing legislation to that of the European Union.