‘Behind the Veil of EU Enlargement’. Kin-State Politics and the Securitisation of National Minorities in the Greek-Albanian Dispute
This paper examines the interplay between EU enlargement, kin-state politics, and the securitization of national minorities, with the Greek-Albanian dispute (the “Beleri case”) as a case study. It argues that, when conflicts arise between an EU member kin-state and a candidate home-state, the unchecked exercise of veto powers, coupled with the lack of alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms, may turn enlargement into a catalyst for the politicization and securitization of national minorities. At the EU level, this undermines EU agency, credibility and commitment to uphold its fundamental values, particularly amid existential challenges and an expanding pool of candidate countries. At the level of kin–home state relations, asymmetrically enforced settlements of bilateral disputes strain inter-state relations and place a disproportionate burden on minority communities on both sides, thereby heightening the risk of future crises. Hence, drawing on Vasilev’s concept of “cosmopolitan kin-state activism”, international jurisprudence, and established best practices, this paper proposes targeted policy recommendations to foster bilateral remedies while reaffirming the overarching role of EU enlargement for resolving bilateral disputes, protecting minority rights, and preventing their securitization.
Alessandro Ieranò