In the context of the EU’s enlargement policy, the European Commission is the institution which should be in the driver’s seat, leading the development of the policy and proposing changes and improvements of the approach. Its annual reports analyse the…
The road of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to the EU has been long. Although the country gained the European perspective in 2003, the country managed to submit its application for EU membership only in 2016. The EU Council accepted the…
Kosovo is a potential candidate for membership in the European Union (EU) as it formally submitted its application in December 2022. Compared to the rest of the Western Balkans, its European perspective is particularly clouded due to the lack of…
North Macedonia is a prime example of a candidate burdened by disputes with its neighbouring European Union (EU) member state(s). As a result of (mis)use of the veto power, the start of accession talks with the EU had been halted…
Although Montenegro has been considered a leader in European integration in comparison to other Western Balkans countries, it is the country that, after Turkey, has already achieved the record length of negotiation process for joining the European Union (EU). As…
Ever since its inception, the number of those supporting the Template model of staged accession to the EU has been sprouting. Primarily, this applies to the EU stakeholders from several member states who have recognised the Model’s potential to reform…
The Slovenian presidency of the EU starting on 1 July has placed the state of the enlargement process for the Western Balkans high on its list of priorities. But the process is dangerously in a state of impasse, leaving the…
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…
