This Policy Outlook examines the foreign policies of the European Union, Russia and China towards the Western Balkans, in particular, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
This Policy Outlook examines the foreign policies of the European Union, Russia and China towards the Western Balkans, in particular, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Although the region mainly relies on the EU both politically and economically, the EU’s reluctance to accept new members causes fatigue towards Brussels in the region. Moreover, in the past decade, Russia and China have increased their footprint in the Western Balkans. Although Moscow and Beijing do not follow a common policy in the region, their activities complement each other in undermining the EU’s influence. This Policy Outlook argues that the EU should not take its influence in the region for granted and develop new strategies to once again become an attractive force in the region. Brussels should also stop regarding Turkey as a competitor in the Western Balkans and work with Ankara to strengthen democracy, rule of law and multiculturalism in the region.
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