For a variety of good reasons, European leaders are focusing their attention on the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the Western Balkans, where Europe’s last war was staged, have fallen to the bottom of the European agenda, as have discussions on EU enlargement.
This neglect could result, yet again, in the destabilisation of the Western Balkans.
China and especially Russia are keen to jump into the vacuum left behind by the EU — and their interests don’t necessarily align with those of the EU.
Serbia is particularly receptive to these efforts, given the country’s self-perception as a bridge between the east and the west. EU leaders need to ask themselves if they can afford to neglect Serbia for at least another five years.
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