IN THIS EPISODE The Western Balkans remain a security concern, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina. Recently, France has deployed a battalion as part of the Strategic Reserve Force to assist the EUFOR mission and exercise a level of deterrence in Bosnia and Kosovo, two countries with security issues, where France wants to see progress. Ilva Tare, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Europe Center, discusses regional security issues with Alexandre Vulic, Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs, International Security, and Arms Control at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. W ..read more

IN THIS EPISODE With the Ukraine war underscoring security risks in the Western Balkans, the United Kingdom has doubled down on its commitment to the region’s stability. In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks with Lord Stuart Peach, the UK’s Special Envoy for the region. Tare asks Lord Peach about the reasons for optimism and pessimism in the region. How do the old issues such as nationalism, Russian influence, and a media landscape rife with misinformation impact the lives of citizens, particularly the younger generation? Why is the UK prioritizing rec ..read more

IN THIS EPISODE North Macedonia, a small nation of 2 million, in the Western Balkans, gained international attention in 2019, when it agreed to the seemingly impossible: changing its name in exchange for EU negotiations and NATO membership. While NATO membership was secured, EU accession talks have stalled for years. This is largely due to Bulgaria’s demand for Constitutional changes recognizing a Bulgarian minority. For North Macedonians, Sofia’s veto was a bitter pill to swallow resulting in public support for the EU dropping sharply, according to surveys. On May 8, the country faces critic ..read more

IN THIS EPISODE Kosovo’s recent ban on the dinar, aimed by the Kurti government at curbing illegal cash flow, has sparked tensions with US and the European partners and raised concerns about its impact on the Kosovo Serb community, on the normalization dialogue with Serbia, and Kosovo’s wider relationship with its Western allies. Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare discusses the reasons behind this controversial move with two esteemed guests; Arian Zeka, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo and Dragisa Mijacic Executive Director of InTER Institute for Territorial E ..read more

European Union (EU) officials are looking ahead to 2030 as a possible target for enlargement into the Western Balkans. In preparation, the leaders of these six aspirant countries (Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania) are gauging how strictly Brussels enforces it directives and regulations—with the energy sector particularly important given its significance to economic growth and social stability, and its impact on the climate. Neighboring Bulgaria provides a test case. Although an EU member now for fifteen years, Bulgaria still relies on coal to gen ..read more

Watch the panel “We need development. And one of the most important factors for that development is connectivity,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda on January 17 at the Atlantic Council’s Three Seas Hub on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Duda spoke alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković as the heads of state took stock of the Three Seas Initiative at age nine, with an eye toward what’s next for the group at a time of war and uncertainty. The Three Seas Initiative, estab ..read more

IN THIS EPISODE 2024 has already plunged the Western Balkans into a maelstrom of complex developments. Serbia’s post-election protests, the precarious Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, and the Kremlin-aligned Dodik’s paramilitary parade all raise critical questions about the region’s stability. In this episode of #BalkansDebrief, Ilva Tare, Europe Center’s Nonresident Senior Fellow, welcomes Damir Kapidžić, Political Scientist and Associate Professor at the University of Sarajevo, and a Weatherhead Visiting Scholar at Harvard. Together, they dissect the critical crossroads facing the region as U.S. and ..read more

IN THIS EPISODE As 2024 dawns, the Balkans cling to a fragile dream: EU membership. But the region and the Union itself are beset by internal tremors. From simmering protests in Serbia to looming threats and economic storms, the region braces for a year of turbulence. Can they emerge resilient from this crucible? Ilva Tare, Nonresident Senior Fellow, delves into these questions and more with Ivan Krastev, chair of the Center for Liberal Strategies and Permanent Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.  Krastev casts a cautious eye on EU reform prospects, outlining potential ..read more

IN THIS EPISODE Serbia witnessed a tumultuous end to 2023, with protests erupting in Belgrade following the December 17th elections. Thousands demand the annulment, alleging President Vučić’s Progressive Party fabricated results through cross-border voting. Despite claiming a “cleanest and most honest” victory, international observers have condemned widespread fraud and manipulation. The West, has been criticized for turning a blind eye to Vučić’s actions. But with renewed protests and whispers of regional conflict, will the honeymoon end? Nonresident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare speaks to Rasa Ne ..read more

Original source On December 23, GCH Nonresident Senior Fellow Wawa Wang co-authored a piece in The Diplomat on China’s new Free Trade Agreement with Serbia and the security concerns the agreement poses for the region. The post Global China Hub Nonresident Senior Fellow Wawa Wang Featured in The Diplomat appeared first on Atlantic Council ..read more