Russia and Serbia Sign Military Pact

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

Russia and Serbia Sign Military Pact

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

Russia and Serbia Sign Military Pact

New Atlanticist
Feb 4, 2025

Fearmongering from Western Balkan leaders is no longer working on their citizens—or the EU

By
Agon Maliqi

The European Union has ample leverage to press its concerns on reforms, Russia policy, and regional stability to Western Balkan countries.

European Union
Eurozone

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.

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

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Content

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

NATOSource

Nov 15, 2013

Russia and Serbia Sign Military Pact

By RFE/RL and RIA Novosti

From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:  Russia and Serbia signed a military cooperation agreement in Belgrade on November 13.

Russia The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Oct 11, 2013

The Bosnian Census and the Future of the Dayton Peace Agreement

By Sarah Bedenbaugh

For the first time since Bosnia and Herzegovina gained independence from Yugoslavia, the country is conducting a national census.  In most countries, census-taking is an automatic, rather tedious method of record-keeping carried out at varying intervals.  In Bosnia, however, the census has stirred up deep-rooted ethnic tensions once more, and brings up fundamental questions about […]

The Balkans

Event Recap

Apr 24, 2013

Discussion on Bosnia’s NATO Ambitions with Deputy Foreign Minister Trisic-Babic

On Wednesday, April 24, the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Relations Program hosted Ana Trišić-Babić, deputy foreign minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina for an off-the-record discussion on Bosnia’s NATO ambitions in light of a changing regional context.

The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Apr 10, 2013

Time to Unblock Macedonia’s Accession to NATO

By Sally Painter

The first visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Afghanistan last month underscored the changing nature of Western involvement in the country. Kerry, among other important discussions, finalised the transfer of the Parwan detention centre over to Afghan authorities. The centre has long been a symbol of the Afghan government’s demands for national […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2012

Stifling Critical Voices in Southeast Europe

By Rena Linden

On November 24, a Croatian journalist revealed that Milorad Dodik, the president of the Bosnian Serb entity Republika Srpska, offered him money to cover up Dodik’s connection to the Hypo Alpe Adria Banka corruption scandal. 

Politics & Diplomacy The Balkans

Event Recap

Nov 13, 2012

Moving the Balkans and Bosnia Forward: A Post-Dayton Roadmap

By Jason Harmala

On November 13-14, the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Relations Program hosted the workshop, “Moving the Balkans and Bosnia Forward: A Post-Dayton Roadmap.” The private, off-the-record workshop focused on identifying regional and national initiatives that could encourage the Balkans region to continue on the path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Download the workshop summary

The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2012

Preventing Atrocity Crimes in Syria: The Responsibility to Protect

By Paul R. Williams J. Trevor Ulbrick and Jonathan P. Worboys

Has the Syria crisis finally reached the tipping point for intervention? In Aleppo, Human Rights Watch reported that Syrian aircraft have been deliberately bombing breadlines.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Jul 25, 2012

Dinner Discussion with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák

On July 25, the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Relations program held an off-the-record dinner discussion with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák. Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson moderated the discussion, which drew on Minister Lajčák’s extensive expertise on the Balkans, and examined the options for moving […]

Central Europe The Balkans

New Atlanticist

May 19, 2012

Continue NATO Expansion

By Damon Wilson

This weekend, NATO leaders gather in Chicago to tackle an agenda dominated by Afghanistan, coping with defense budget cuts and global partnerships. These are key issues, yet alliance leaders cannot afford to ignore enlargement. The goal should be for this summit to advance, not set back, the candidacies of Macedonia, Montenegro, Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. First, […]

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Apr 21, 2012

Macedonia pushes NATO, EU membership

By Austin Wright, POLITICO

From Austin Wright, POLITICO:  Macedonia’s renewed push to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has drawn bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, but its decades-long dispute with Greece remains a stubborn impediment.

European Union International Organizations
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Experts

Staff

Bailey Galicia

Project Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Extremism

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Leon Leskovec

Head of Cabinet for Karlo Ressler, Member of the European Parliament

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian Bosnian

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Fellow

Jeffrey Hovenier

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Croatian Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jonathan Moore

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Bosnian Croatian
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