The new approach of the European Union in accession negotiations
the focus on Chapters 23 Judiciary and Fundamental Rights and 24 Justice, Freedom and Security
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60054/PEU.2018.5.73-85Keywords:
enlargement, accession talks, rule of law, candidate countries, new approach, Western BalkansAbstract
The so-called New Approach to negotiations was introduced in 2012. It was a new mechanism in dealing with one of the policies of the European Union that had already undergone a substantial change. It focuses on the rule of law and the two chapters 23 and 24 as the central chapters of the negotiations putting them as the balance indicator against all other chapters of the acquis. This new tool was sought after by a number of Member States, but also by those in the European Commission that wanted to show that the Enlargement Policy is functional and delivering results as well as to protect its own credibility. Since 2012 the New Approach has been implemented on Montenegro and Serbia and is yet to be seen how it will be applied once the other candidates open their accession talks.
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