With Russia’s war on Ukraine raging on its eastern border, EU enlargement in the Western Balkans has a new geopolitical urgency. The EU must commit to supporting their accession – and a fixed date like 2030 alongside a staged approach will add credibility to this commitment
As NATO convenes in Vilnius, Kremlin proxies are undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty. Allies need to formulate a diplomatic strategy to prevent a military crisis
The new energy cooperation between Hungary and Serbia threatens to undermine the EU’s energy sovereignty and pull Serbia further from the EU
A new agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is a welcome step – but the EU can transform the situation by setting out clearer accession prospects for both countries
EU and US policymakers have it within their gift to change the dynamic in their relations with Serbia. Taking on Western Balkans kleptocracy lies at its heart.
ECFR’s recent mini-series sheds light on the issues in the dialogue process by identifying both pitfalls and opportunities
A comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia would permit cooperation between the countries to advance – benefitting the entire Western Balkans region
Kosovo’s government and the EU will need to help Serbia lay the groundwork for a workable, long-term solution on Kosovo’s status
The EU needs to move from facilitation to action to accelerate the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia
Leaders in Kosovo and Serbia need to dial back the nationalist rhetoric and prepare their populations for concessions – and the EU’s role in this process remains indispensable
A new agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is a welcome step – but the EU can transform the situation by setting out clearer accession prospects for both countries
Russia is working to keep Bosnia divided. But many of the country’s problems are homegrown or exacerbated by neighbouring states.
As European and US ambivalence towards the Western Balkans persists, the region will be in increasing danger of falling into an endless spiral of competition between various foreign actors
It will be difficult to sustain progress for Bosnia or the region without a credible and clear EU accession process
The covid-19 crisis has accentuated Western Balkans countries’ pre-existing vulnerabilities – but has not brought about a new political era in the region
Restoring independence to the judiciary and strengthening the rule of law are key to the country’s future stability and success
The EU should demonstrate its commitment to the Western Balkans by encouraging countries there to resolve their outstanding disputes
Introduction By loading this video, you consent to your personal data being sent to YouTube, a service provided by Google. Google may combine your data…
Introduction Few parts of Europe are more marked by emigration than the Western Balkans.[1] Yet despite many decades of its people leaving…
The EU should do more to promote circular migration as part of their ongoing pursuit of European integration
With Russia’s war on Ukraine raging on its eastern border, EU enlargement in the Western Balkans has a new geopolitical urgency. The EU must commit to supporting their accession – and a fixed date like 2030 alongside a staged approach will add credibility to this commitment
As NATO convenes in Vilnius, Kremlin proxies are undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sovereignty. Allies need to formulate a diplomatic strategy to prevent a military crisis
The new energy cooperation between Hungary and Serbia threatens to undermine the EU’s energy sovereignty and pull Serbia further from the EU
EU and US policymakers have it within their gift to change the dynamic in their relations with Serbia. Taking on Western Balkans kleptocracy lies at its heart.
ECFR’s recent mini-series sheds light on the issues in the dialogue process by identifying both pitfalls and opportunities
A comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia would permit cooperation between the countries to advance – benefitting the entire Western Balkans region
Kosovo’s government and the EU will need to help Serbia lay the groundwork for a workable, long-term solution on Kosovo’s status
The EU needs to move from facilitation to action to accelerate the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia
Leaders in Kosovo and Serbia need to dial back the nationalist rhetoric and prepare their populations for concessions – and the EU’s role in this process remains indispensable
Western Balkans states need to join the EU’s energy transition. They can do so in several ways.
China is building up its influence in the Western Balkans through projects focused on everything from energy and infrastructure to culture, education, and media. If the European Union is to achieve its geopolitical goals in the region, it will need to understand the nature of competition with Beijing in all these areas.
How much influence does China already have in the Western Balkans and how should European policymakers react?
North Macedonia and Albania wanted to start negotiations with the EU after having been candidate countries since 2005 and 2014. But the enlargement plans seemed…
Mark Leonard speaks with Vessela Tcherneva and Robert Cooper about the contested result and how it might be solved. Bookshelf: Carnegie report on…
Conférence publique avec Hashim Thaci, Président de la République du Kosovo, modérée par Sylvie Kauffmann, Directrice éditoriale au Monde. …
Mark Leonard talks with the director of ECFR's office in Sofia, Vessela Tcherneva and the director of ECFR's Wider Europe programme, Fredrik Wesslau about the…
Francisco de Borja Lasheras, director de la oficina de ECFR Madrid, entrevista a Andreja Stojkovski, presidente del Macedonian Centre for European Traininng, en Skopje, Macedonia
What does the ICTY’s track record suggest about the future direction and potential of the International Criminal Court? On the panel discussing are Julian…
Francisco de Borja Lasheras participó el pasado 26 de febrero en la Conferencia Internacional “Civil Society and Beyond: A Joint Dialogue on the European Path”…
In the second of two podcasts, Spiros Economides of the London School of Economics argues that the EU needs to think strategically about how…
Nick Witney, co-author of the ECFR publication 'Rebooting EU foreign policy', explains the need for a rethink of how the EU deals with the…
Софийският офис на Европейския съвет за външна политика има удоволствието да Ви покани на представянето на новия доклад на Владимир Шопов, „Да разцъфтят хиляди…
This high-level event will discuss ideas and recommendations that ECFR policy fellows Nicu Popescu and Gustav Gressel make in their 2020 policy brief on the security compact, and to extend these ideas to the Western Balkans
The virtual roundtable, “China in Europe’s periphery. How China became a power in the Western Balkans”, will bring a small group of experts, officials, NGO and media representatives together in a discussion on China’s embedding in the region.
This two-day conference marking the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement gathered a distinguished line-up of speakers to discuss the challenges facing the country and to explore options for transatlantic cooperation in the Western Balkans
The impact of geopolitical investments in the Balkans The Think Tank and Civil Society Forum will be live streamed on ECFR’s YouTube channel from Sofia
debate with Albin Kurti, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo
What's next next in EU-Western Balkans relations?
Workshop Understanding the role of third actors & looking for solutions to tackle the brain drain
Black Coffee Morning in cooperation with Georgia's Reforms Associates (GRASS).
In this interview, Engjellushe Morina talks about the situation in Kosovo after receiving Turkish drones
Pristina is extending its sovereignty and territorial integrity all the way to the end of this northern part of Kosovo
Engjellushe Morina comments on the Kosovo-Serbia conflict and the risks it poses for an escalation of tensions in Europe
Albin Kurti’s acts are becoming more and more nationalist-populist, which is dangerous for Kosovo’s stability
Tefta Kelmendi joined the Carrefour de l’Europe podcast to talk about the tensions in the Western Balkans
That hands-off approach carries risks, said Engjellushe Morina, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations
Morina Engjellushe comments on the current violence in Kosovo and its links Serbia´s foreign policy
