The impact of EU conditionality policy on human rights and rule of law in the western Balkans: An attempt at a methodology

This article seeks to explore the underlying methodological dimension of measuring the impact or effects of the EU’s policy of conditionality in western Balkans states in the arena of human rights protection and respect for the rule of law. These are critical issues in which aid conditionality has global dimensions, while the EU itself remains a valid international actor. The article also focuses on the adequacy of the measurement instruments used to measure the impact of this policy, based on the existing trends as well as past experience with enlargement to central and eastern Europe. The author identifies the major research questions that need to be confronted and suggests an appropriate methodological approach to resolve these, including an important gender dimension. In the process, he identifies the deficiencies concerning the measurement of conditionality which have come to haunt the application of the policy. The central aim kept in mind throughout is to seek improvements in the application of the policy itself and with a view to the wider lessons regarding the role that conditionality has come to play.