20 May 2026
Inclusion of the Six Countries of the Western Balkans (WB6) in the European Union Rule of Law Report
Country Western Balkans
Date 28 February 2025
Author Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Publisher Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
This policy brief examines how the Western Balkans (WB6) countries can be fully included in the EU’s Rule of Law Report mechanism. The EU Rule of Law Report is a monitoring tool assessing justice systems, anti-corruption frameworks, media freedom, and institutional checks and balances in EU member states. Since 2024, only four WB countries—Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—have been included, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo remain excluded simply because they have not yet formally opened accession negotiations. The brief argues this approach contradicts the EU’s merit-based enlargement methodology and weakens reform incentives. Full inclusion of all WB6 would improve accountability, accelerate rule of law alignment, and complement existing EU monitoring tools like Country Reports and Reform Agendas under the EU Growth Facility.
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