The countries of the Western Balkans still have a lot of work to do before they are ready to join the EU.
Archive:
Balkans
The Frenchman talks Corsican autonomy. The Dutch prime minister is unwilling to let Bulgaria into Schengen.
History suggests separation could easily lead to more tension and violence on the Balkans, not less.
The fear is that Donald Trump will give up Kosovo as a bargaining chip to gain Russian cooperation in the Middle East.
For Montenegro, membership is about making a choice to be Western. For NATO, it’s about closing a gap.
Austria and Balkan nations take action to reduce the flow of people, to the dismay of Germany and Greece.
Russia warns that it would consider its Cold War rival’s expansion in the Balkans as a provocation.
The West needs to provide stronger incentives for the creation of strong institutions in Russia’s neighborhood.
In seeking further autonomy, the Serbs in Bosnia could violate the Dayton Agreement.
The geography and history of the Balkans explain why so many seek a better life in Western Europe.