The European Commission is set to recommend that the EU open accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite lingering ethnic divisions in the Western Balkan country. This comes after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that it’s “not enough to just wait for the Western Balkans to move closer” to the EU. At the same time, US Special Representative to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar is also in the region to reaffirm America’s commitment to the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans. Prof. James Ker-Lindsay, who has written extensively on the EU, the Balkans, and Southeast Europe, joins Thanos Davelis to break down these latest developments.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

European Union members should open talks with Bosnia on joining, the EU’s executive branch says

Brussels recommends opening EU membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina

Senior US Official Travels to Kosovo to Revive Kosovo-Serbia Talks After Tensions Over Currency 

Special Representative to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar’s Travel to Belgium, Kosovo, Austria, and Montenegro

IOBE calls for measures to stem demographic trend

Gaza war: First aid ship sets off from Cyprus

‘Lifeline’ aid ship for Gaza finally sets sail from Cyprus