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Digital Regulation in the Western Balkans Cannot Wait for EU Accession

CA “Zašto ne” has published a new policy paper, “Online Platform Accountability and Information Integrity in the Western Balkans: Bridging the Gap Before Accession,” examining the challenges facing Western Balkan countries as they prepare for the implementation of EU digital regulation.

Photo by: Zašto ne

As Western Balkan countries prepare for the implementation of key EU digital regulations, they face a fundamental challenge: building the necessary institutions and capacities while remaining outside the European regulatory and cooperation mechanisms essential to their implementation. This challenge is particularly evident in the case of the Digital Services Act (DSA), whose enforcement relies on powers and cooperation structures that are not available to countries outside the EU.

The paper examines how different national approaches to DSA alignment, combined with prospects for gradual integration into the EU Single Market, could create growing disparities across the region. These differences are not only a question of regulatory alignment, but could also have consequences for the protection of users’ rights, information integrity and democratic processes in the region.

Addressing these challenges requires practical cooperation during the pre-accession period, alongside longer-term preparations for implementing EU digital regulation. 

Can the European Democracy Shield help bridge the gap?

The European Democracy Shield creates new possibilities for involving candidate countries in EU efforts to counter information manipulation, protect electoral integrity and strengthen democratic resilience. 

The paper argues that these opportunities should be translated into concrete arrangements for Western Balkan institutions, civil society, researchers, fact-checkers and media.

The paper puts forward five recommendations to EU institutions, calling for:

  • Clearer DSA readiness benchmarks in enlargement monitoring, linked to institutional independence, capacity and fundamental rights.
  • Progressive participation in European digital governance mechanisms before accession, including structured cooperation with EU regulators.
  • Meaningful Western Balkan participation in the European Democracy Shield, including its cooperation structures and expert networks.
  • Stronger election-related cooperation with Very Large Online Platforms, including rapid response arrangements and channels for addressing information manipulation.
  • Strengthening independent research and oversight, through sustained support for civil society, researchers, fact-checkers and media.

The policy paper is available HERE.

This Policy Paper is produced by CA “Zašto ne” in the framework of the IGNITA initiative, funded by Open Society Foundations—Western Balkans. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the Open Society Foundations—Western Balkans.