{"id":14113,"date":"2026-10-30T15:18:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T14:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zastone.ba\/?p=14113"},"modified":"2026-10-30T16:55:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T15:55:08","slug":"digital-regulation-in-the-western-balkans-cannot-wait-for-eu-accession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zastone.ba\/en\/digital-regulation-in-the-western-balkans-cannot-wait-for-eu-accession\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Regulation in the Western Balkans Cannot Wait for EU Accession"},"content":{"rendered":"

CA \u201cZa\u0161to ne\u201d has published a new policy paper, \u201cOnline Platform Accountability and Information Integrity in the Western Balkans: Bridging the Gap Before Accession,\u201d examining the challenges facing Western Balkan countries as they prepare for the implementation of EU digital regulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo by: Za\u0161to ne<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019 rights, information integrity and democratic processes in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

Addressing these challenges requires practical cooperation during the pre-accession period, alongside longer-term preparations for implementing EU digital regulation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can the European Democracy Shield help bridge the gap?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>European Democracy Shield<\/span><\/a> creates new possibilities for involving candidate countries in EU efforts to counter information manipulation, protect electoral integrity and strengthen democratic resilience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The paper argues that these opportunities should be translated into concrete arrangements for Western Balkan institutions, civil society, researchers, fact-checkers and media.<\/span><\/p>\n

The paper puts forward five recommendations to EU institutions, calling for:<\/span><\/p>\n