The view from Sofia: Bulgaria’s energy security needs to gain prominence
A stagnating Western Balkan economy (and a weaker EU) has made Bulgaria the battleground of Russia's energy projects and Western pushback
Western Balkans
Can Steinmeier and Hammond reset Bosnia?
Halting Bosnia’s eight-year downward trend and boosting the country’s momentum towards Europe is the main goal of Steinmeier and Hammond’s proposal
Eight inconvenient truths on Bosnia and EU policy in the Western Balkans
The EU’s policy in Bosnia is failing, and as the country heads for implosion, Europe must change course
Europe must not neglect the Western Balkans
With the situation in the Western Balkans deteriorating, Europe needs a policy reset
Serbia, Kosovo and the benefits of normalisation
The EU-brokered deal between Serbia and Kosovo settles the most acute dispute in the Balkans and is likely to have an impact on the wider region. Yet it may be too early to declare victory in the Balkans.
The euro crisis should not mean the end of enlargement
Enlargement is far from over, with Croatia due to join next year and other countries in the Western Balkans still working towards accession. And although the challenges are considerable, further expansion is not just in these countries’ interests but in the interests of the EU itself.
Not your Serbian déjà vu
The Serbian presidential elections this weekend look familiar – but Serbia is a very different place to how it was in 2004 and 2008. It is normalising fast and its core concerns are far more similar to other European countries than they were before.