Southeastern Europe

Most Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) economies have seen faster recoveries post COVID than Western EU economies, with Poland, Hungary, Romania and the Baltics being especially strong performers.

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor has received European Council President Charles Michel’s reply to his letter in which Pahor advocated giving Bosnia-Herzegovina EU candidate status without setting conditions. Pahor’s office said in Friday’s release that Michel underlined his firm commitment to the European path of Western Balkan countries.

The European Union's treats Western Balkans states as a wicked stepmother. While this has not significantly changed even after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it did trigger a fundamental debate on whether the EU wants at all to admit the remaining six Western Balkan countries (Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo) to full-fledged membership.

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor and Kosovo counterpart Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu agreed in Ljubljana on Monday that relations between the two countries are excellent and expressed the wish to continue this way. Both leaders see a peaceful and secure future for the Western Balkans in the context of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Belgrade – President Borut Pahor has noted in an interview with Monday’s issue of the Serbian newspaper Politika that the EU not wanting or being unable to establish greater presence in the Western Balkans will have consequences. He said he will continue to work for the EU accession prospects of the Western Balkans and expressed understanding for Serbia.

Laid to Rest?

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for a family photo following an EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 23 June 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

Ljubljana – Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu will be in Slovenia on Monday and Tuesday, discussing her country’s expectations about joining the EU and NATO, dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina, and the situation in the Western Balkans.

Madrid – Prime Minister Robert Golob has warned NATO not to overlook the Western Balkans as it strengthens its presence on its eastern flank as part of a new deterrence and defence posture.

It is just as important “not to overlook our soft underbelly, the Balkans,” he said, noting that this is a region where Slovenia is present and for which it is trained.

Undermined by years of mutual ignorance, disrespect and deceit, the Balkans' EU accession process has finally succumbed to both European and Balkan leaders' populist, short-sighted policies

Ljubljana – In an interview with the public broadcaster, President Borut Pahor has talked about the international circumstances, noting that the government is in for deliberation about how to remain an ally in helping Ukraine, while wisely “regulating sanctions so that we can help ourselves”. He also spoke about the long-term prospects of the new cabinet.