COVID-19 in the Western Balkans

Report Oct 7, 2024

Working on a new transatlantic approach toward the Western Balkans

By Maja Piscevic, Ilva Tare

The United States and the European Union must work together, and play to their own respective strengths, to prioritize democratic and economic growth and alignment with the West.
Corruption European Union
COVID-19 in the Western Balkans

New Atlanticist Jul 9, 2024

Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

By Andrew Bernard

While Spain still falls short of its defense spending goals, Madrid nevertheless leads NATO missions, supports Ukraine, and helps guard Europe’s southern flank.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
COVID-19 in the Western Balkans

Issue Brief Jul 2, 2024

Doing as the Romans do: Recommendations for the infrastructure development agenda for Italy’s G7 presidency

By James Batchik, Rachel Rizzo, Nicholas O’Connell

The West’s plans for infrastructure development, if done effectively, could be a strategic, economic, and geopolitical feat. The G7 now must take forward meaningful action to increase coordination and cooperation to turn this ambition into reality.
Africa Economy & Business

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

COVID-19 in the Western Balkans

By Dimitar Bechev

COVID-19 overshadowed two major developments in the region: the EU decision to open membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania, as well as North Macedonia’s formal accession to NATO on March 27. In normal circumstances, this would have been huge news. Yet now the pandemic leaves little bandwidth for other matters, even in the Western Balkans.

Coronavirus Democratic Transitions

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

Mar 19, 2020

Ambassadors call for global cooperation to meet coronavirus challenge

By David A. Wemer

While societies around the world struggle to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), political leaders must continue to collaborate on solutions to mitigate the public health and economic effects of the virus.

Coronavirus East Asia

Press and members call

Mar 19, 2020

Atlantic Council press call: Unity among allies in the fight against the coronavirus

As the global community ramps up efforts to counter the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the United States and its allies and partners are taking extraordinary steps to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. As these measures are put into effect, widescale quarantines are disrupting life for millions, the economy is facing its greatest challenge in over a decade, and longstanding geopolitical relationships are in the spotlight. How can the United States and its closest allies work together most effectively to combat this growing crisis? What lessons can we learn from countries at the leading edge of this fight in order to reduce the toll among our citizens and those of our closest friends? Ambassador Armando Varricchio, Ambassador Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, and Barry Pavel unpack these questions and discuss the latest on the ground in Europe and Singapore.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

EnergySource

Feb 19, 2020

TurkStream is South Stream 2.0—has the EU done its homework this time?

By Martin Jirušek

Flying largely under the radar, progress on the TurkStream pipeline has been met with little attention. This is quite unjust, as the project is a key piece of Gazprom’s future supply strategy.

Energy Markets & Governance Geopolitics & Energy Security

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 18, 2020

Spain’s position on Venezuela jeopardizes unified fight for democracy

By Cristina Guevara

Support shown to the Maduro regime on ideological grounds serves to fuel further polarization, not only in Venezuela, but around the world. Whatever the nature of the relationship between the Maduro regime and Podemos, or ideological commonalities between the two, lending diplomatic support for Maduro is commending a dictatorship.

Democratic Transitions Southern & Southeastern Europe
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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

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

Fellow

Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian Bosnian

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict
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