Böll·Europe Podcast #12 | Western Balkans' EU enlargement uncertainty

20 years after the Thessaloniki Summit, where European Union leaders promised EU membership to Western Balkans countries, the prospects of the region joining the EU in the near future are vague. The EU's credibility has been weakened by constant obstacles, unjustified delays and Member States' vetoes. The Western Balkans, on the other hand, show an obvious stalemate in the EU-related reform process, in addition to ongoing bilateral disputes, unresolved issues of the past and democratic backsliding. Our host Gail Rego talks with members of the Western Balkans Strategy Group about the role of the EU on Bosnia and Herzegovina, and about Kosovo-Serbia relations:

• Agon Maliqi, a policy analyst, activist, and media writer. His most recent work has focused on political risk, growing democratic backsliding, and resilience to authoritarianism, based in Pristina and Tirana
• Lejla Gačanica, Programme Officer at Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, Bosnia and Herzegovina; independent legal counsel and researcher, Sarajevo

Read the position paper "Enlargement uncertainty: Reframing EU-Western Balkans relations" by the Western Balkans Strategy Group.

Listen to our previous Böll·Europe Podcast episode #4 | Europride in Belgrade and LGBTIQ+ rights in the Western Balkans

Read all our content on Western Balkans.