EU accession and market economy criteria: a comparative study of candidate states
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Дата
2025-11-03
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Alfred Nobel University
Анотація
This article presents a comprehensive study of the economic criteria for EU accession for candidate countries, with a specific focus on their market economy performance. The Copenhagen criteria, formulated in 1993, continue to serve as the fundamental basis for assessing a country’s readiness to integrate into the European Union. The economic dimension, which includes the existence of a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure within the EU internal market, is of particular importance. The aim of the study is to generalize theoretical approaches and conduct a comparative analysis of the market readiness of candidate countries based on a wide range of international indices.
The research draws upon data from authoritative sources such as the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), Financial Development Index (FDI), Labour Market Indicators (ILO, OECD), Human Development Index (HDI), Global Innovation Index (GII), Education Index (UNESCO), and Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). The criteria are systematized into five core characteristics: quality of economic governance, macroeconomic stability, functioning of goods and services markets, functioning of the financial market, and functioning of the labour market. Based on these indicators, a rating matrix has been developed for nine EU candidate countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey), enabling an objective assessment of their compliance with EU market economy standards.
The findings show that Montenegro, Georgia, and Serbia lead in most categories, while Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina lag behind due to significant institutional and structural challenges. The practical relevance of this study lies in its applicability to the formulation of targeted economic reform strategies, institutional capacity building, and alignment with EU standards. The proposed methodological approach may serve as a basis for future academic research and policy support for the EU integration process.
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економічні критерії, країни-кандидати, Копенгагенські критерії, Європейський Союз, ринкова економіка, міжнародні рейтинги, євроінтеграція, порівняльний аналіз, economic criteria, candidate countries, Copenhagen criteria, European Union, market economy, international ratings, European integration, comparative analysis