The Western Balkans and the EU [What Think Tanks are thinking]

European Union heads of state and government reiterated support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans at their meeting on 9 March 2017, and underlined that the situation in the region was fragile due to internal and external challenges. Despite relatively good economic growth prospects, the Western Balkans' reform progress has been slow, rule of law weak, and corruption persistent. Many Western and local politicians are also concerned about the increasingly prominent role of external players in the region, mainly Russia, but also China, Turkey and the Gulf states.

From the Western Balkans, only Croatia has so far joined the EU, in 2013. Accession talks continue with Montenegro and Serbia. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania are official candidates, with Albania hoping to formally open negotiations soon. Bosnia and Herzegovina formally applied for EU membership in 2016, but along with Kosovo, it has a potential candidate status at present.

This note offers links to a series of recent studies from major international think tanks and research institutes on problems faced by the Western Balkans.

Compiler: Marcin Grajewski

ESO: Background information: Western Balkans Six Leaders' Summit, 16 March 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/western-balkans-six-leaders-summit-16-march-2017/

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