Is the EU losing the Western Balkans? What local experts think

The Western Balkans remain Europe’s unfinished business, not only for the continuing stalemate in Bosnia or tensions in Macedonia and Northern Kosovo, but also because broader geopolitical developments shaping the EU’s neighbourhood are materialising in this region too - and in ways that could be detrimental to European interests.

These issues questions were tackled by a workshop in Sofia in August 2015, with notable participation of Balkan think-tankers, journalists and analysts. The guest speakers included HR/VP Federica Mogherini, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and deputy Bulgarian PM Meglena Kuneva. More than 50 experts from the Balkans and the Black Sea region raised their concerns and offered policy suggestions.

ESO: Background information: Merkel pledges ‘no artificial delays’ to Balkans’ EU prospect http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-pledges-no-artificial-delays-to-balkans-eu-prospect/

ESO: Background information: Balkan leaders: ‘We are fed up with seminars’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/balkan-leaders-we-are-fed-up-with-seminars/

---