#BalkansDebrief

After a decade of attempts to reach an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, the EU and the US appear to have joined forces to find solutions for a long-lasting deal for the future of both countries. Thirteen policy experts from Serbia and Pristina authored a document proposing four likely scenarios.

Two political analysts who took part in the working group "Kosovo and Serbia by 2027" are interviewed by Ilva Tare in this edition of #BalkansDebrief.

Should we expect Prime Minister Kurti to settle for anything less than a full recognition of Kosovo? Will President Vucic give up the claim that Kosovo is Serbia? Can the West still act as a guarantor of a final deal between the two?

What is the likelihood that a new government will be formed in Montenegro following the vote of no-confidence? Why did Prime Minister Abazovic lose the parliamentary support? Did President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic play a role in the country's recent political unrest?

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare speaks with Zeljko Pantelic, a Montenegrin foreign policy expert about the current political developments in Montenegro, country's EU path, and the Open Balkan Initiative.

Can the EU's negotiations be completed by 2025? Is there political will to fight organized crime and corruption? Is Russia a destabilizing force in Montenegro?

Another crisis between Kosovo and Serbia was averted following close involvement of the EU and the US officials in facilitating reciprocal recognition of ID cards. Conversation now moves forward under the auspices of the EU-facilitated Dialogue.

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare speaks to the US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill, about Serbia's EU path, issues affecting the EU-facilitated dialogue, Serbia's choice between the West and the East & the US support for the Open Balkan initiative.

Will the United States push Serbia to fully align with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, and in particular, its stance on Ukraine? What is the sentiment in Belgrade about the recognition of Kosovo's independence? How can the Open Balkan initiative facilitate regional cooperation and attract those skeptical countries in the regions to join?

Increased Russian intelligence activity and security threats over the last few weeks across the Western Balkans have troubled some NATO allied countries. Has Russia increased its activity in the region as a result of the war in Ukraine? In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare speaks to Fabian Zhilla, a Senior Fellow of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, about the national security threats posed by intelligence activities and cyber attacks. Are the Balkans prepared to fend off a hybrid war? Should the visa regime for the Russian citizens be revisited across the Balkans?

With general elections set to take place in October, the Bosnian political spectrum still has to reach an agreement to revise the electoral law. Why did the Office of High Representative's proposed changes to the electoral law start protests in Sarajevo?

In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare speaks to Adnan Huskic, President of the Center for Election Studies, who says that implementing changes to the election law so late in the game would be a mistake, as the campaign has already started.

Is Bosnia facing a crisis again? Will the EUFOR mandate be extended in November? Are the US and the UK sanctions against Bosnian officials having an effect?

Escalation of tensions on the border between Kosovo and Serbia raised concerns in Europe and in the US about a potential spillover to the rest of the Balkans. In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare speaks to Petrit Selimi, Former Foreign Minister of Kosovo and CEO of Millennium Foundation Kosovo, about the frictions that followed Kosovo's announcement of the reciprocity principle. Has the crisis been averted or postponed for a month? Will the involvement of EU Commission Vice President Borrell ensure continued dialogue between President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti? Has Russian support for Serbia made the dialogue more difficult? How can regional cooperation in the Western Balkans be unlocked?

The start of membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia marked a milestone in the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans after many years of disappointment. In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare speaks with Pierre Mirel, Honorary Director General of the European Commission, on the impact of the new EU methodology in the accession talks. Has the EU's credibility been restored? Will the reversibility of the enlargement process work in practice? What is the staged accession approach, proposed by Mirel?

Russia's war in Ukraine has caused a tectonic shift in Europe and its periphery. It is time for decisive action from EU leaders to engage strategically in the Western Balkans.

Ilva Tare interviews Damon Wilson, President and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy, on the opportunity for Western support in the region.

Can the United States engage more actively in the region? What role can the United States play in encouraging reforms in the Western Balkans? How can the next generation of young politicians and entrepreneurs committed to democratic values in the region be supported and encouraged by EU and US partners?

While Sofia accepted the French proposal to find a solution between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, protests erupted after the Skopje government decided to consider approving the demands before beginning EU accession talks. Ilva Tare discusses the origins of this dispute and the path forward for both countries with Dimitar Bechev, lecturer at Oxford's School of Global & Area Studies.

Is it possible for Bulgaria and North Macedonia to create a model for non-provocative national identity expression? Is the current crisis setting a precedent for future rounds of regional enlargement? Can the EU act as a guarantee for bilateral talks?

What will happen in the Western Balkans following the European Council's decision?

As Balkan leaders expressed their frustration with the enlargement impasse, they emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation. Ilva Tare, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center, speaks with Maja Piscevic and Damir Marusic, Senior Fellows at the Europe Center with firsthand knowledge of the situation in the region.

Will the path forward for the six Balkan countries towards EU integration be via the Berlin Process 2.0 or the Open Balkan initiative? Can the concept of a European Geopolitical Community help to advance enlargement? If so, how?