Why is the EU enlargement stuck ?

Dušan RELJIĆ Head of the Brussels Office of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin It is not Brexit or Euroscepticism blocking the EU membership of the majority of post-Yugoslav states and Albania. If they were as rich and politically established as Norway or Switzerland, the EU political class and populace would surely welcome them with ovations. As things stand, the Western Balkan states are perceived as harbouring financial and political risks. EU leaders consider it only to be prudent if the slightly frightening Western Balkans are kept on the other side of the fence. However, decision and opinion-makers in EU generally fail to recognize the genuine source of the perils. In truth, it is exactly the structure of the economic and political relations that has been established between the EU and the Western Balkans that condemns the aspirants for EU memberships to remain laggards. Between