Importance of the EU Integration Process for the Improvement of Legal Environment in Western Balkan Countries

This chapter aims to focus and further develop the issue of the importance of the EU integration process for the improvement of the regulatory quality and rule of law in Western Balkan countries. The process of legislative reforms started in parallel with their transition process from socialist to free market economies. It was mostly ad hoc and focused on key economic laws. The EU process accelerated legislative reforms, contributing to a more systemic approach in the creation of a new legal system. The improvement of the quality of regulations and their implementation is of crucial importance for the creation of a more favourable business environment, especially in the period of economic crisis. The region could benefit from the EU’s “smart regulation” approach by making regulatory reform a key vehicle for promoting support for economic recovery in the post-crisis period. Institutional infrastructure is of utmost importance for the efficient implementation of laws. Regional co-operation is an essential factor for political stability and economic prosperity. The harmonization of national legislation with the acquis will lead to the harmonization of the legislation within the region as well, positively influencing the quality of regional legal and regulatory environment. The chapter begins with the chronology of the legislative reforms in the region. The second part gives the progress achieved in the EU accession process, while the third part analyses the influence of the EU accession process on their legal environment. The chapter concludes with the importance of the regional harmonization of the national legal systems, for the creation of a favourable investment climate on the regional level.