Can coronavirus achieve elusive unity in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

New Atlanticist Jun 17, 2025

Are Albania and Montenegro on the fast track to EU membership?

By Agon Maliqi

Albania and Montenegro are capitalizing on the European Union’s renewed momentum for enlargement as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Elections International Norms
Can coronavirus achieve elusive unity in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Report May 20, 2025

The European Union Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: A reality test for EU enlargement

By Valbona Zeneli, Richard Grieveson, Isabelle Ioannides, Dimitar Bechev

EU enlargement faces a test case in the Western Balkans. The current plan offers real benefits before accession, creating incentives for reform, but questions of enforceability and the relatively low amount of financial support threaten the success of the EU’s political influence in the region.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Can coronavirus achieve elusive unity in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

New Atlanticist Apr 23, 2025

What’s at stake for Bosnia and Herzegovina as Milorad Dodik faces a political reckoning?

By Agon Maliqi

With his secessionist threats seemingly at a dead end, Milorad Dodik’s external backers might view him as more of a liability than an asset.
Corruption Freedom and Prosperity

Explore the #BalkansDebrief Series

#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center‘s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Explore the Series

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Apr 3, 2020

Can coronavirus achieve elusive unity in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

By Semir Dzebo and Shelby Magid

Their initial response to the COVID-19 outbreak shows that even the staunchest opponents of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s unity are capable of working within its institutions and putting the public interest before their ethno-political ambitions. Now they only need to be willing to do so outside of the threat of a global pandemic.

Coronavirus Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Apr 2, 2020

Forging the Four Freedoms Initiative for prosperity and peace in the Balkans

By Marko Čadež

To demonstrate their readiness to fulfill the responsibilities associated with full-fledged membership in the world’s largest common market, the countries of the region launched the Western Balkans Four Freedoms Initiative to bring down barriers to intra-regional trade, travel, and labor movement. While not identical to Roosevelt’s plans, this project seeks to ensure the same outcome of peace and prosperity through liberty, opportunity, and growth.

International Markets Macroeconomics

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2020

EU greenlights North Macedonia and Albania membership talks: Breakthrough or symbolic gesture?

By Jörn Fleck

"The decision by the EU foreign ministers to open accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania comes at a time when Europe is battling a major public health crisis and is bracing for its economic aftershocks," Dimitar Bechev says. "Keeping enlargement alive speaks volumes about the union’s ability to muddle through."

Democratic Transitions European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2020

Last time in the waiting room for North Macedonia?

By Teri Schultz

While there may still be a day or two before written EU conclusions seal the political deal, the government of North Macedonia looks forward to the end of this waiting period and the beginning of the rest of its story. With so much gloom in the world right now, it would be an extremely welcome two weeks in Skopje.

European Union The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Feb 19, 2020

Challenges and opportunities for Croatia’s new president

By Claudia Vaughn Zittle

Croatia’s new president Zoran Milanovic entered office on February 18 with a legacy to build upon and several challenges to overcome. Over the last fifteen years, Croatia has made remarkable progress as a democratic state, joining NATO in 2009 and the European Union (EU) in 2013. Even so, the uncertain future of European integration, uneven economic development, and malign foreign influence present challenges for Croatia and the Balkans region. The United States, other EU members, and NATO allies have a role to play in supporting Croatia’s efforts to tackle these challenges.

Economy & Business Elections

New Atlanticist

Feb 10, 2020

Will the Commission’s new EU proposal revive Western Balkans enlargement?

By David A. Wemer

“For a region whose politics, both domestic and foreign, have been shaped by the promise of EU membership in almost every way since the 1990s, the coming months and years will prove trying," Damir Marusic says.

Democratic Transitions European Union

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2020

Albania still committed to EU membership, PM says

By David A. Wemer

Despite continued delays in the opening of accession negotiations with the European Union, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that his country remains committed to pursuing EU membership because “there is no alternative.” Speaking at the Atlantic Council on February 5, Rama reported that Albania is continuing with its planned reforms as European leaders debate the proper time to begin the membership process for Albania and its neighbor North Macedonia. “We are not sitting and crying,” Rama said. Albania is “not waiting for some miracle to happen.”

Democratic Transitions European Union

In the News

Feb 3, 2020

Bechev published in Al Jazeera: Russia’s spy war in the Balkans

By Dimitar Bechev

For years now, the Kremlin has been conducting a spy war in the Balkans. But Bulgarian authorities surprised the world when they recently charged three Russians in the attempted murder of an arms manufacturer. Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Dimitar Bechev digs into the complicated operations under way. Related reading More about our expert

Intelligence The Balkans

In the News

Jan 9, 2020

Bechev speaks with The Times of London on Russia and the opening of Turkstream

By Atlantic Council

Geopolitics & Energy Security Oil and Gas

New Atlanticist

Dec 20, 2019

Russia’s strategic interests and tools of influence in the Western Balkans

By Dimitar Bechev

The Western Balkans are part and parcel of Russia’s strategy to establish itself as a first-rate player in European security affairs, along with other major states such as Germany, France, and the UK. Since the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, the region has been at the forefront of debates on critical issues such as transatlantic relations, the EU’s security and defense policy, and NATO/EU enlargement. Having a foothold in the Balkans means having a say on those strategic matters, which are of direct consequence to Russia.

Russia The Balkans
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Experts

Fellow

Gorana Grgić

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Croatian Democratic Transitions

Fellow

Judy Ansley

Senior Advisor

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Dimitar Bechev

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

The Balkans Security & Defense

Fellow

Daniel Fried

Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative Eurasia Center

Eastern Europe Democratic Transitions

Millennium fellow

Aleksandar Vratonjić Gligorijević

Chief Marketing Officer, TeleGroup

Millennium Leadership Program

Digital Currencies Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Michael Groen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Defense Technologies
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