VIEW FROM THE BALKANS: BREXIT AND THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS ON THE CANDIDATE COUNTRIES FOR EU MEMBERSHIP

Abstract

The debate of the UK’s future in the European Union has shifted the focus away from the enlargement of the bloc, which might affect what was considered to be the most successful EU external policy. This article will give an overview of the beginning of the Brexit idea, together with the possible legal and political implications the exit might have on both the UK and the EU, going even further and looking into the possible implications of the Brexit on the candidate countries for EU membership. It argues that the Western Balkan countries, as part of the Stabilization and Association Process will not be directly affected by the Brexit, but the enlargement policy is affected by the struggle of the Union to keep its member states together.