This discussion paper argues that successful economic and democratic transformation of the Western Balkans depends not only on a more coherent political engagement of the EU and its member states with the region, but also on a more effective use of the full range of tools within the enlargement policy toolbox.

If the EU does not count the Balkan countries among the stakeholders who should participate, in some form, in the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), then one has to wonder whether the Union is still serious about the European perspective of the region.

The enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans is still an uncertainty, fifteen years after the countries of the region were promised a European perspective at the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit.

This paper suggests the need to change the current approach and structure of the EU Enlargement Policy.

This discussion paper argues that the current dynamics in Serbia’s EU accession talks and the existing modes of interaction between the Serbian government, civil society and European Commission (EC) are not conducive to swift and sustainable progress on the EU track.