EU's push for LGBTQ+ rights in the Western Balkans faces political resistance
The European Commission has pushed for stronger LGBTQ+ rights in the Western Balkans over the past five years. Through funding, legal pressure, and accession talks, it has urged reforms in anti-discrimination laws and hate crime protections. Yet, despite these efforts, political parties in the region often sidestep the issue to avoid backlash from voters.
Between 2021 and 2026, the EU used multiple tools to advance LGBTQ+ rights in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans included reforms for anti-discrimination laws, while annual Enlargement Reports criticised gaps in same-sex partnership recognition and Pride event safety. In 2023, the Commission urged Serbia to investigate violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. Funding through IPA III—€2 billion allocated until 2027—supported projects like civil society training on LGBTQ+ inclusion in North Macedonia and Albania. Political pressure also played a role, with Serbia's Chapter 23 negotiations in 2024 tied to progress on LGBTQ+ legal equality.
Despite these measures, progress remains uneven. While voters broadly support 'thin' gender equity—such as women's workplace rights and protection from gender-based violence—opposition to 'thick' gender equity, which includes LGBTQ+ rights, stays strong. Political parties respond cautiously, often promoting gender equity only when it aligns with voter preferences. Governing parties mention gender issues more frequently than opposition ones but stick to less controversial topics. Party manifestos serve as signals to both the EU and domestic audiences, balancing accession demands with electoral risks.
The EU's conditionality model assumes that pressure will drive reform. However, parties in candidate countries adapt selectively, making only minimal changes to avoid alienating voters. This approach slows meaningful progress, even as the European Commission continues to monitor gender equity as part of the EU acquis.
The gap between EU expectations and domestic realities persists. While funding and legal pressure have led to some reforms, political parties in the Western Balkans still avoid substantive changes on LGBTQ+ rights. The result is slow, inconsistent progress, despite the Commission's ongoing efforts to tie accession talks to equity standards.
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