What are Europe’s Boundaries?
The inherent characteristics of Europe’s geography define its regional boundaries. Whether that is the region of the Atlantic Ocean stretching to the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, or Ireland to Istanbul, Europe’s geographic definition is more concrete than true European membership and identity. While “Europe’s” 28 members (soon to be 27, while looking simultaneously looking to jump to 33 in the near future) define membership economically and socially, there are many countries that have been left out due to political, religious, or economic reasons.
According to Glencross, Morocco previously attempted to join the EEC in 1987, to no avail. This suggests that Europe does not wish to expand its exclusive club to the south. While geography can be pointed to as the cause of this denial, another mostly Islamic country, Turkey, does technically fall within the geographic boundaries. Yet, Turkey’s standing as a semi-authoritarian state weakens their case for admission. When we consider social barriers such as religion, the mounting differences and hindrances in the eyes of Brussels and long lasting European citizens suppress the chances of a country like Turkey receiving membership. In the eyes of my case study country of Montenegro, previous war and macroeconomic instability are the root for their exclusion so far, despite lying within the geographic boundaries. While the West Balkans seem to be a target for inclusion in the near future as long as their economic standing becomes more stable, countries on the other side of the Black Sea seem to be more of a longshot. Countries such as Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan are members of the human rights group the Council of Europe which overall includes 47 countries. Yet, overall institutional weakness and drastic cultural differences allow geographic reasoning to be used as a facade.
While EU membership is a clear indicator of European Identity, it is important to consider that Norway (for reasons surrounding their fishing), Switzerland (fiscal reasons), and in a few months the United Kingdom are all on the outside of the supposedly essential club that aims to put forth a common European identity. The question that should be posed is this: what does being within the boundaries of Europe provide unless a country benefits economically through EU inclusion? In short, EU membership defines a soft European border that could artificially bring together these Eastern European countries with western ones, but is that the best option for all parties involved?
The Idea of Europe
When considering the Idea of Europe, it must be acknowledged that many different actors will have different viewpoints and opinions. Additionally, they will use different criteria when drawing those hypothetical boundaries. Criteria such as physical geography, religion, economic status, or European Union membership all stand in the way of a united definition.
My case study country of Montenegro is not an EU member, yet appears on track to be one by the year 2025. While Montenegro and Serbia are the only two countries that have started membership talks, others such as Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Macedonia seem to follow their West Balkan neighbors in such talks soon, according to the European Commission. The important takeaway geographically from these EU enlargement aspirations is the fact that Greece is an EU member while being further away from continental Europe compared to these aspiring members. Obviously, geography is not the reason that these West Balkan nations have been withheld from the EU as they clearly fall within the regional definition of Europe. Additionally, religion does seem to be the driving issue behind their exclusion from the EU. Around 75 percent of the country is Christian, mostly of the Serbian Orthodox branch. While nearly 20 percent of the population practices Islam, this minority is not a significant enough number to deter membership, as is the case with Turkey whose Islam population is 82 percent of the total population.
As a result of the decline of the Eastern Bloc and the Yugoslav split, many different actors were left with the task of rebuilding their respective countries. After years of war on the peninsula as well as closed market economic policies, West Balkan nations were left underdeveloped and poorer than other western European nations. According to the World Bank, economic growth sits at a projected 2.5 percent in 2019, nearly a full percent lower than the other five non EU West Balkan nations. Additionally, the World Bank views Montenegro as a country that is susceptible to external shocks, as it relies on capital inflows from abroad. If Montenegro wants to advance forward as a potential EU addition, macroeconomic stability must be improved along with achieving the difficult task of lowering the debt level.
All facts considered, Montenegro’s standing as a geographically appropriate, predominantly Christian, economically developing country fits the profile for the Idea of Europe.
Glencross, Andrew. The Politics of European Integration: Political Union or a House Divided? Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley Blackwell, 2014.
Rankin, Jennifer. “Serbia and Montenegro Could Join EU in 2025, Says Brussels.” The Guardian. February 06, 2018. Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/06/serbia-and-montenegro-could-join-eu-in-2025-says-brussels.
“Montenegro.” World Bank. Accessed September 12, 2018. http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/montenegro.