The Balkans

The Balkans

The Western Balkans has seen significant progress toward stability and toward regional and Euro-Atlantic integration in the form of developments such as Albania’s, North Macedonia’s, and Montenegro’s NATO accessions and the resolution of the Greece-North Macedonia dispute. While the Balkan countries continue to work on strengthening their democratic institutions, combating corruption, addressing human rights concerns, and countering the spread of disinformation, they also grapple with persistent regional tensions, such as those between Kosovo and Serbia. US and EU commitment remains crucial to ensure that progress toward prosperity, stability, and regional political and economic integration continues.

Bedenbaugh Quoted by VOA News on Kosovo’s Progress Against Radicalism

Dispatches
Jun 5, 2026

A deeper look at Trump’s new policy toward the Western Balkans 

By
Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts examine the recently released, congressionally mandated report on US policy toward the Western Balkans.

Politics & Diplomacy
The Balkans

Bedenbaugh Quoted by VOA News on Kosovo’s Progress Against Radicalism

Dispatches
Jan 23, 2026

2026 will be a big year in the Western Balkans. Here’s what to watch.

By
Amanda Thorpe, Stuart Jones

In the coming year, Western Balkan countries will increasingly need to assume greater agency in shaping their own trajectories.

Economy & Business
Energy & Environment

Bedenbaugh Quoted by VOA News on Kosovo’s Progress Against Radicalism

The Big Story
Dec 11, 2025

Bosnia’s forgotten war is still with us

By
Thom Shanker

Fewer than fifty years after the end of World War II, genocide returned to Europe in Bosnia. The carnage ended on December 14, 1995, with the signing of the US-brokered Dayton Accords. Thirty years on, have the war’s lessons—for Europe; for diplomacy, humanitarian intervention, and more—been heeded?

Conflict
NATO

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.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

In the News

Oct 16, 2016

Bedenbaugh Quoted by VOA News on Kosovo’s Progress Against Radicalism

By Sarah Bedenbaugh

Read the full article here.

The Balkans

In the News

Oct 7, 2016

VOA Macedonia Covers Atlantic Council Conference on Europe After Brexit

By Atlantic Council

Watch the full discussion here.

The Balkans

In the News

Jun 21, 2016

Sloan for War on the Rocks: Step on the Gas: Montenegro’s Road to NATO Membership

Read the full article here.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2016

NATO Enlargement Seen About Filling Gaps

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Montenegro’s defense minister, Milica Pejanović-Đurišić, has some advice for countries aspiring to join NATO: explain to partners and friends the importance of alliance membership from a political standpoint. Pejanović-Đurišić is well positioned to give such advice. In December 2015, NATO extended an invitation to Montenegro to begin accession talks and become the twenty-ninth member of […]

NATO Russia

In the News

Jun 8, 2016

Benitez Quoted by Voice of America on Montenegro’s Accession to NATO

By Jorge Benitez

Read the full article here.

NATO Security & Defense

In the News

May 19, 2016

Gramer featured in The Atlantic on Montenegro’s NATO Membership

By Robert Gramer

Read the full article here.

NATO Security & Defense

In the News

May 19, 2016

Benitez Quoted by Associated Press on Montenegro’s Invitation to Join NATO

By Jorge Benitez

Read the full article here.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2016

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama: Enlargement a Secondary Priority for the European Union

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Leader says Europe preoccupied with economic, security, and migration crises A combination of economic, security, and migration challenges facing Europe could “fuel instability in the Western Balkans” and “bring more uncertainty to the south and east,” Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, said on April 13. Rama contended that Balkan states such as Albania—eager to deepen […]

European Union Germany

In the News

Apr 13, 2016

Atlantic Council Event with Albanian Prime Minister Featured in Foreign Policy

By Atlantic Council

Read the full article here.

The Balkans

Webcasts

Apr 12, 2016

Outlook for Security and Integration of Albania and the Western Balkans
NATO Security & Defense
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Experts

Fellow

Earl Anthony Wayne

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Afghanistan Americas

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Fellow

Valbona Zeneli

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Albanian Corruption

Events

Online Event Wed, June 24, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

What is driving protests in the Western Balkans from Belgrade to Tirana
Civil Society Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society