Poor governance, weak institutions will dog eastern EU

Subject

Instability in eastern EU.

Significance

The EU has long reinforced Central-East European (CEE) member states with regulations and constraints. As it became absorbed in the euro-crisis and the nationalist surge, these countries felt less constrained and freer to act. Consequently, short-term or incoherent policy goals and elite-driven illiberal agendas are impeding good governance, anti-corruption efforts and further democratisation in some of CEE; none are exempt from government instability and rising nationalism.

Impacts

• Instability in CEE is likely to discourage bold decisions on EU enlargement to North Macedonia and Albania.
• Economic malaise will make CEE governments less choosy regarding Chinese investments.
• An increasingly disenchanted public will be even more susceptible to internal and Russian disinformation campaigns.