Wilson Center Experts
Elena Jileva
European Studies
Related Content for this Expert
245. New Borders and Old Neighbors in Europe
Jul 07, 2011December 2001- The Central and East European (CEE) countries aspiring to accede to the European Union (EU) have been harmonizing their visa policies with Union standards. The EU has made obligatory the full adoption of the visa acquis (a set of regulations and practices) by the CEE countries without an option for derogation, even though such an option has been granted to some of the EU members - the UK, Ireland and Denmark. The CEE countries are under the obligation to comply with the EU visa regulations even if this requires the imposition of visas on nationals of states which have never before been under such a duty and where there are close historic, economic, and family links. At the same time, the EU has encouraged cross-border cooperation and has urged the CEE countries to establish and foster good bilateral relations with their neighbors. However, the adoption of the EU visa policy by the CEE countries has had the undesirable effect of creating obstacles to cross-border movement of people (and goods) in the region and has led to political, economic, and social tensions rather than to the desired good neighborly relations. Ironically, the implementation of the EU visa acquis has, in fact, jeopardized what Helen Wallace has called "a kind of central European acquis," which fostered constructive forms of multilateralism and bilateralism that have been vastly important in West European integration. more
Federal Conference: Innovative Strategies for European Integration of the Western Balkans
May 06, 2009 // 9:00am — 5:00pm
EU accession holds the best hope for overcoming stagnation on democracy-building, market reform and state consolidation in the Western Balkans. However, the traditional enlargement process is not well suited to the region and requires a coordinated strategy between the EU, the United States and other international actors if it is to succeed in the near future. This meeting will aim to discuss the EU enlargement process, the role of the US and other international actors to support this process, the unique obstacles to the success of the process in the Western Balkans and innovations that might be introduced for a new, coordinated policy toward the region. more
Webcast
Federal Conference: Innovative Strategies for European Integration of the Western Balkans
May 06, 2009 // 9:00am — 5:00pm
EU accession holds the best hope for overcoming stagnation on democracy-building, market reform and state consolidation in the Western Balkans. However, the traditional enlargement process is not well suited to the region and requires a coordinated strategy between the EU, the United States and other international actors if it is to succeed in the near future. This meeting will aim to discuss the EU enlargement process, the role of the US and other international actors to support this process, the unique obstacles to the success of the process in the Western Balkans and innovations that might be introduced for a new, coordinated policy toward the region.
245. New Borders and Old Neighbors in Europe
Jul 07, 2011December 2001- The Central and East European (CEE) countries aspiring to accede to the European Union (EU) have been harmonizing their visa policies with Union standards. The EU has made obligatory the full adoption of the visa acquis (a set of regulations and practices) by the CEE countries without an option for derogation, even though such an option has been granted to some of the EU members - the UK, Ireland and Denmark. The CEE countries are under the obligation to comply with the EU visa regulations even if this requires the imposition of visas on nationals of states which have never before been under such a duty and where there are close historic, economic, and family links. At the same time, the EU has encouraged cross-border cooperation and has urged the CEE countries to establish and foster good bilateral relations with their neighbors. However, the adoption of the EU visa policy by the CEE countries has had the undesirable effect of creating obstacles to cross-border movement of people (and goods) in the region and has led to political, economic, and social tensions rather than to the desired good neighborly relations. Ironically, the implementation of the EU visa acquis has, in fact, jeopardized what Helen Wallace has called "a kind of central European acquis," which fostered constructive forms of multilateralism and bilateralism that have been vastly important in West European integration.