Bilateral barriers or good neighbourliness? The role of bilateral disputes in the EU enlargement process

Bilateral disputes have become a bigger obstacle in the current EU accession process than was the case during previous enlargements. This paper discusses the increasing role that bilateral disputes play in the accession negotiations between EU member states and candidate countries. Two case studies are used to describe this phenomenon: the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia, and the name dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The author looks at the development within the EU of the principle of 'good neighbourliness', tries to give an explanation for the increasing role of bilateral disputes within the enlargement process and examines whether member states are successful at playing a bilateral issue through the enlargement process.

About the author

Arjan Uilenreef works at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This paper represents the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of his employer.