Power of need: Energy security in the Western Balkans
Western Balkans states need to join the EU’s energy transition. They can do so in several ways.
Western Balkans
Wilder Europe: Enlargement and a European political community
A European political community would help candidates for EU membership resist outside pressure and enact democratic and economic reforms
Enlarged and in charge: Why the EU needs a new approach to accession
The EU’s enlargement policy will only remain effective if it judiciously manages its relations with Western Balkans countries
Closed-skies diplomacy: What the Western Balkans can do for the EU
The still-incomplete web of allies and institutions that the EU has woven in the Balkans in the last 30 years is not only strong but also valuable to its geopolitical struggle against Russia
Past talker: How the EU should respond to the Serbian president’s re-election
The EU needs to convince Serbia’s newly re-elected president that his country must choose between European integration and subservience to Russia
14 Apr
Представяне на доклад – Да разцъфтят хиляди контакти: Как Китай се съревновава за влияние в България
Софийският офис на Европейския съвет за външна политика има удоволствието да Ви покани на представянето на новия доклад на Владимир Шопов, „Да разцъфтят хиляди…
Mapping China’s rise in the Western Balkans
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.
Southern discomfort: The West’s competition with China in the Balkans
The West has only recently started to develop a coordinated strategy to compete with China in the Balkans. This contest has now begun in earnest.
Echo of empire: Why Russia’s war on Ukraine troubles all post-Soviet countries
Russia’s war on Ukraine could have a heavy impact on other post-Soviet countries. Unless the EU helps these countries deal with the effects of the conflict, they could become increasingly dependent on the Kremlin.
Bound to Russia: Serbia’s disruptive neutrality
The deepening relationship between Belgrade and Moscow has long created unease across the Balkans. By refusing to condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine, Serbia has proven once again that it is a liability to the EU and NATO.
Publications
Decade of patience: How China became a power in the Western Balkans
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
Bosnia to war, to Dayton, and to its slow peace
It will be difficult to sustain progress for Bosnia or the region without a credible and clear EU accession process
Viral vulnerability: How the pandemic is making democracy sick in the Western Balkans
The covid-19 crisis has accentuated Western Balkans countries’ pre-existing vulnerabilities – but has not brought about a new political era in the region
Hostage state: How to free Bosnia from Dayton’s paralysing grip
Restoring independence to the judiciary and strengthening the rule of law are key to the country’s future stability and success
The power of perspective: Why EU membership still matters in the Western Balkans
The EU should demonstrate its commitment to the Western Balkans by encouraging countries there to resolve their outstanding disputes
From myth to reality: How to understand Turkey’s role in the Western Balkans
Introduction By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.Learn more Load video…
Luck like the Irish: How emigration can be good for the Western Balkans
Introduction Few parts of Europe are more marked by emigration than the Western Balkans.[1] Yet despite many decades of its people leaving…
The Way Back: Brain Drain and Prosperity in the Western Balkans
The EU should do more to promote circular migration as part of their ongoing pursuit of European integration
Do the Western Balkans face a coming Russian storm?
Introduction “Serbia and the rest of the Balkans are a pawn in a great game of powers between Russia, the EU, and the US.”…
Return to instability: How migration and great power politics threaten the Western Balkans
EU’s weakness is prompting a new scramble for power for the Balkans with Russia, Turkey and other actors
Articles
Power of need: Energy security in the Western Balkans
Western Balkans states need to join the EU’s energy transition. They can do so in several ways.
Wilder Europe: Enlargement and a European political community
A European political community would help candidates for EU membership resist outside pressure and enact democratic and economic reforms
Enlarged and in charge: Why the EU needs a new approach to accession
The EU’s enlargement policy will only remain effective if it judiciously manages its relations with Western Balkans countries
Closed-skies diplomacy: What the Western Balkans can do for the EU
The still-incomplete web of allies and institutions that the EU has woven in the Balkans in the last 30 years is not only strong but also valuable to its geopolitical struggle against Russia
Past talker: How the EU should respond to the Serbian president’s re-election
The EU needs to convince Serbia’s newly re-elected president that his country must choose between European integration and subservience to Russia
Southern discomfort: The West’s competition with China in the Balkans
The West has only recently started to develop a coordinated strategy to compete with China in the Balkans. This contest has now begun in earnest.
Echo of empire: Why Russia’s war on Ukraine troubles all post-Soviet countries
Russia’s war on Ukraine could have a heavy impact on other post-Soviet countries. Unless the EU helps these countries deal with the effects of the conflict, they could become increasingly dependent on the Kremlin.
Bound to Russia: Serbia’s disruptive neutrality
The deepening relationship between Belgrade and Moscow has long created unease across the Balkans. By refusing to condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine, Serbia has proven once again that it is a liability to the EU and NATO.
War and hate: Lessons for the Balkans from the invasion of Ukraine
Ukraine’s leaders have been careful not to organise the war effort around hatred of Russians. Societies recover much faster from war than from hate.
Small but complex: Montenegro’s minority government and the EU’s role in democratic reform
The recent collapse of Montenegro’s ruling coalition creates both risks and opportunities for democratic reform. The EU needs to help the country’s interim minority government resist Serbian and Russian influence.
Specials
Mapping China’s rise in the Western Balkans
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.
Podcasts
China’s strategic approach to the Western Balkans
How much influence does China already have in the Western Balkans and how should European policymakers react?
How to deal with our Western Balkan neighbours?
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…
Macedonian referendum: What happens next?
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 Thaçi, Président de la République du Kosovo
Conférence publique avec Hashim Thaci, Président de la République du Kosovo, modérée par Sylvie Kauffmann, Directrice éditoriale au Monde. …
New chaos in the Balkans: what role left for the EU?
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, en Skopje, Macedonia.
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
The Yugoslavia War Crimes Tribunal: A Model for Justice or an Anomaly?
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…
Futuro de la ampliación de la UE en los Balcanes Occidentales y el papel de la sociedad civil
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”…
Rebooting EU foreign policy part 2 – Spiros Economides
In the second of two podcasts, Spiros Economides of the London School of Economics argues that the EU needs to think strategically about how…
Rebooting EU foreign policy part 1 – Nick Witney
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…
Events
14 Apr
Представяне на доклад – Да разцъфтят хиляди контакти: Как Китай се съревновава за влияние в България
Софийският офис на Европейския съвет за външна политика има удоволствието да Ви покани на представянето на новия доклад на Владимир Шопов, „Да разцъфтят хиляди…
11 Mar
European Security Cooperation with Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans
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
2 Mar
China in Europe’s periphery. How China became a power in 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.
14 Dec
Dayton at 25: The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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
11 Dec
9 Nov
Berlin Process Think Tank and Civil Society Forum Sofia 2020
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
7 Sep
Kosovo’s Political Coherence during Pandemics and Negotiations with Serbia
debate with Albin Kurti, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo
20 Jun
How to deliver the European agenda for the Western Balkans?
What's next next in EU-Western Balkans relations?
6 Mar
Western Balkans in Focus
Workshop Understanding the role of third actors & looking for solutions to tackle the brain drain
28 Feb
One step closer – Georgia, EU-integration, and the settlement of the frozen conflicts?
Black Coffee Morning in cooperation with Georgia's Reforms Associates (GRASS).
In the media
Everyone ought to be a bit careful when talking about drawing parallels and talking about another war in the Balkans
Engjellushe Morina is interviewed on Across the Balkans on the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia
In the process of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, there has been a lack of political spine from transatlantic partners like the E.U. and the U.S
DW refers to ECFR’s idea of a Partnership for Enlargement
These are two countries where Russia has expressed its appetite territorially
For Majda Ruge, granting candidacy to Ukraine and Moldova is mainly a “geostrategic decision” from the EU to send a message to Moscow