How long will countries in the Western Balkans wait for EU membership? In October 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron led a handful of EU Member States in blocking Albania and North Macedonia from starting accession talks. Macron has called for reforms to the accession process.
At the time, then-President of the EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, called the veto a “major historic mistake”. In February 2019, Skopje finally resolved the long-standing name dispute with Athens by renaming the country “North Macedonia”, costing the Prime Minister significant political capital. There is a feeling in the North Macedonian capital that the EU has reneged on its side of the bargain (and snap elections have been called for April 2020 that could see the ruling party booted out of power by an angry electorate).
Some analysts believe the move by the EU leaves the Balkans “wide open” to Russian influence. Balkan politicians who support EU membership now look weak, and the Kremlin has been keen to promote Russian trade and investment (and even defence cooperation) in the region. Other countries, including Turkey, China, and the Gulf States, are also keen to boost their influence in the Western Balkans in the absence of European leadership.
What do our readers think? We had a comment sent in from James, who worries that if the EU delays the accession process it will open up the region to influence from countries such as Russia. Is he right?
To get a response, we spoke to Christian Danielsson, Director General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR) at the European Commission. How would he respond?
For another perspective, we put the same question to Bernard Nikaj, Ambassador of Kosovo to Belgium and Luxembourg, and acting Head of the Kosovo Mission to the European Union and NATO. What would he say?
Finally, we put James’ comment to Velma Šarić, founder and president of the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), a Sarajevo-based non-governmental organisation promoting stronger inter-ethnic relations in Bosnia-Herzegovina. How would she react?
Is the EU losing the Balkans to Russia? If the EU delays Balkan accession, will it lose influence in the region? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts!
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Is the EU losing the Balkans to Russia?
What a strange question. How can the EU ‘lose’ one part of the world to another part of the world that belongs only to itself? Surely the choice of any State to choose where they will place their allegiance is based on what is economically best for them and, to a much larger extent than the EU is willing to accept, their cultural comfort zone.
If the Balkans are preferring the Russian attitude to the EU offering, it is because it suits their natural lifestyle and social expectations more closely. Europe has become a political madhouse. Far removed from the conservative beliefs and comfort of historical social expectation. The EU and globalism followers are intent on cultural destruction. All the usual, or, practical beliefs of Western civilisation are coming to an end. With the additional take over of what is seen by the majority, as a deviant move into unacceptable practices heralded as ‘normal,’ when quite clearly, to the society being invaded, it is anything but acceptable.
Therefore, if the Balkans appear to be leaning toward a more stable allegiance with Russia, it is because Russia appears to be less crazed by political hysteria than the EU. They appear comfortably conformists in a world hell bent on chaotic divergence. To the point where this morning on our ITV British GMB programme they were seriously suggesting we should remove, by ‘banning’ of some or all of the old adage lines, like, ‘its not over til the fat lady sings,’ or ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ and so on. The reason said to be, speaking these things is that some immigrant people may be offended by them as they may feel they are being ridiculed at being fat or cooks, as this form of wording is similar in content to ‘racism.’
The foreign invasion into our social structure and the abuse of our culture has become intolerable in the UK. It is astounding in content. Yet ignored by our political leadership. And the EU is fearing the Balkans preferring to align with Russia. I wonder why that would be?
How can you (the EU) lose something which you never possessed in the first place? It’s hallucinations and side effects of an age-old but contagious enlargement fever.
Could it be blind EU arrogance or Brussels’ unrealistic expectations? Russia or China can’t be “ordered” around with EU legal directives- or face the Commissioner of all Commissioners wrath!
Probably, our present “EU concept” will not only “lose” to Russia, but China as well. The EU concept remains too rigid and unfit to compete with the “Middle Kingdoms giant panda” or the Great Russian Bear. Neither the Bear nor the Panda will wait for a formal invitation!
“Jean-Claude Juncker called the veto a “major historic mistake”. This EU “Oberkommissar” demonstrated once more his favor for despotism & hypocrisy.
Can dwarf nation dictators be winners?
Catherine has a wise voice on this one in my opinion.
Losing these countrie’s a big misstake??
What is the contribution from those corrupt coutrie’s to the european union in the future?
I can tell you: Many,many criminals who have free movements in our poart of europe.
And in the past is allready proven that all thos expensive cars who have been stolen,the majority was found in Albania.
And if Albania is accepted,then the free passage of stolen cars will increase..!
It has definitely lost Serbia by allowing Russia to set up shop in Belgrade and encourage Serbian nationalism.
So what. If these countries can’t see the value of being EU and waiting, or “partnering with russia” that’s on them. Russsia is a bloated pig. A country with less of a GDP than ITALY. Russia is OVERSOLD, because god knows, you have to keep people fearful, and on their side, where ever that may be. Nothing does that better than a PRETEND dangerous nemesis.
Europe will still letting this for another cold war, otherwise if not before as well as the globalustas will rise, and put all these magnificent environmental protection prohetos, planting coves on balconies!.
Is this a serious question?
EU has only lost their collective EC-mind.
Pity, don’t understand Macron and his political views, unbelievable
The EU never had the Balkans. You cannot loose what you do not have.
no
The Balkans aren’t ours to loose in the first place.
Hopefully yes.
I think so.
why, we are in war with Russia?
Nope. This is a provocation from anti-Russian interests to increase animosity between the two powers by fear mongering. “do something about Russia or they gonna take the Balkans!”
NATO look like a gang of idiots
Delete, hide or report this
And that is why I support an EU army, that way we can act fully independent and not have to jump in the same boat with the Americans every time they pick beef with other countries. The only reason Russia is even looking at the Balkans is because their commerce with the EU is suffering due to American imposed sanctions and the Balkans are an alternative market.
Balkan must stop spending in army and weapons and invest in people infostructure and development
Maybe …because E.U. thinks only for profits and is governed by a greedy commission directed by lobbies
Let it go …
Maybe to the US, but not to Russia. Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania are the closest US ally in Europe. Serbia will follow soon.
The US has no allies. Anyone who trusts that administration is setting themselves up for disappointment.
Les États-Unis n’ont jamais eu besoin d’un allié en guerre. Si demain il aura un mouvement important vers l’UE (NATO et déjà là), après-demain les serbes et les russes ouvrent u.e nouvelle guerre de type comme dans l’est de l’Ukraine.
Mieux vaut une paix que les guerres interminables!
Not only to Russia but also to Turkey and even to China. Here is the post I wrote on my blog about the EU decision not to open enlargement negotiations with Northern Macedonia and Albania. This is a tragic political mistake.
https://www.pyleborgn.eu/2019/12/reaffirmons-la-vocation-europeenne-des-balkans/
If you promise something, but do not keep your promise, you will not be trusted any more. This is what has happened. The cheated Balkan nations are fully justified in finding more reliable economic partners somewhere else. Why should they keep on waiting for a lying EU to accept them? Can anyone say how long this will take? It will be only waiting in vain. The Balkan countries want to progress, not to wait forever for empty promises to be fulfilled. When one door is closed, another one opens. It is common sense. Which country will be such a fool to choose to become a hostage of Macron’s whims and continue waiting indefinitely for EU membership, if other opportunities are available? Every country has the right to build its prosperity through beneficial economic partnerships. EU has lost the trust of those Balkan nations.
Why do we need the countries of Balkan? There are countries that are much closer to our understanding of the world: The countries of Mercosur are suffering similar problems.
Russia is Bulgaria’s biggest brother. The Russians are our saviors and liberators. The Russian economy is strong and Russia is a very rich country in resources.
Russia wanted to make Bulgaria a dominant power on the Balkans. They invested a lot in Bulgaria. Hopefully we will create our second nuclear power plant with Russian help.
One of the largest banks in Russia called “Sber” might come in Bulgaria.
The EU doesn’t have property rights on the Balkans or any other part of Europe. European countries are sovereign independent states that belong to no one. So the answer is no.
Крис Караджов very well said
Крис Караджов I agree .
Крис Караджов The E.U. only discusses with candidate members. The E.U. has not invaded these countries. Russia on the contrary has invaded a part of Ukraine and gives massive support to the dictator in Belarus against the vast majority of the people there. More: NATO doesn’t push Kiev to become member of the Western Alliance, but the government in Kiev tries to become member of NATO, in order to defend their country against Russian aggression.
Yves Deneulin Ukraine should belong to Russia yes
Antonio Belinha Most of Ukrainians have an opposite opinion. It is not on you to decide in their place!
Yves Deneulin very good….no problem….but that it is my point view,
Yves Deneulin watch less CNN and VRT , russia has invaded Ukraine :D
Alain Mestdagh This is exactly what I said!
Yves Deneulin that’s the reason why I am laughing :D ….
EU’s failures are their own. They exposed that some EU politicians are working against EU’s interest – like creating conflicts with Russia and China, which only benefits USAn markets.EU – from supporting corrupt politicians in the Balkans (because they are “anti-Russian”), flooding EU with migrants, to causing economic inflation and forcing failed medical response policies.. EU’s failures are piling up.
George Thomson what are you talking about?
Good riddance ! Albanians ,Skopjans and Bulgarians and Turks have nothing to do with Europe. Ευρώπη is a Greek word.
The Balkans are mostly Slavic and Orthodox, culturally very close to Russia. Maybe Russia should be complaining about losing the Balkans to the EU, not the other way round
Vivian Dimitriou Has nothing to do with language or race, the EU is behaving more and more like the former USSR, and the east European countries are fed up with repeating history.
Dux Lucis how many ’european’ tanks are running in the streets of Warschau, Budapest and Prague … ? On the contrary, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn are crying like babies for more european military support.The money from Brussels they never have refused …It is about time we stop financing these new central european fascist dictatorships …
I honestly believe that there is no alternative for the West Balkans but the E.U., however each year that accession talks are postponed is another year granted to Russia, China and even Turkey to reinforce their grip an consolidate their influence on these countries.
Why is EU always in search of enemies against Russia ?
No way!
As written, being constantly desillusioned about the accession process has these consequences. And until the EU stops with it, the risk is higher and higher for the increase of the Russian influence.
Pedro Mendes Not prepared to do your homework = desillusioned by accession process. Got some of that kind in already. Don’t need more of it.
Werner Küpper what we don’t need is elitist European leaders that think the EU is theirs only
Als die EU zo goed en eerlijk was, dan bleven ze vanzelf wel.
Yes, thanks to Greece until recently, and now Bulgaria
Approaching to Russia with Putin is approaching to devil
Russia has linguistic similarities with the Macedonian, through the Cyrillic alphabet as their foundation, as well as the Orthodox religion. Macedonia needs an protector « acceptor » the way they are and NOT the way that some countries would LIKE them to be.
La Macédoine a des similitudes linguistique alphabétique, culturelles, religions, historiques, folkloriques beaucoup plus fort avec la Bulgarie que avec Russie.
Russia has linguistic similarities (Cyrillic alphabet); that is to say the same origin as the Macedonian, also the Orthodox religion is shared by both countries. Macedonia needs a protector « acceptor » the way they are, NOT the way some countries would LIKE them to be.
Russia has historically, linguistic similarities with Macedonia, i.e, they have the Cyrillic alphabet, as foundation as well as the Orthodox religion. Macedonia needs a protector-acceptor the way they are and NOT the way some countries would LIKE them to be.
If the EU is “losing” the Balkans, maybe it didn’t deserve to “possess” it in the first place.
Guy Seeten it is about time you start to understand the concept of the european union …
Géért Dries My comment was sarcastic, but no, I’m not fond of this E.U.
Guy Seeten from Russia with love … sarcastic as well.
No borders No nations <3 <3Just fly to Mars and stay there***
I didnt knlw about this issue … Thanks for bringing it up.
As EU does not back Christian values… Yes they can be attracted by Russia.. And then is it a real problem?
EU corrupt institute accuse others for corruption but in the mean time they behave like a dictator, kneel and obey or sanctions.
If they feel happy close to Russia and Putin, what are they waiting for? Article 50 is ready to use. Besides, Belarus is a splendid example to follow, do svidanya …
Europe.
Fake news.
Jean-jaques Deweerdt Politici en media zijn een oorlog aan het voorbereiden mijn gedacht !!!
hungary, poland, slowenia away with them, they have no place in a democraty
Gerd Blömer-pohl Klopt die hebben ervaring met DDR praktijken.
EU will implode, like USSR in the past !
i hope so
Claude Lemal the sooner the better.
Fernand Vermeiren of course, I dare say !
The rest of countries from lest Europe, Russia can take them ,like the others countries before, they should be Russia….like Poland…or Romania, ou Bulgaria or Czech, anyway all of them ,just the German it was ok take that it was Russia before…..
Plus de nouveaux pays dans l’ue le Kosovo est une partie de la Serbie ,qui lui a été volée
L’élargissement de ue avec des pays pauvres tel que la Moldavie , macedonia, etc n’est pas souhaitable. La rentrée de l’ucraine avec des richesses sol- sous sol peut être rentable pour ue….mais la Russie est là et elle a déjà annexé la Crimée…on a besoin d’une Europe riche et forte
Quand l’UE incorpore des états qui ne remplissent pas les conditions, cela donne des échecs.
L europe n existe pas
Cant hegemony anymore, noone like russia near, peoples like peace and democraty like usa.
They can have them. Done with social dumping in the EU.
Европско-Америските Т.е. НАТО Интересите се показаа на балканотСо право лице на Модерниот фашизамВо првата и фтората светска војнаА и во војната при распадот на Југославија.Затоа балкаските народиСе толку приврзани конРусија бидејки РусијаНе е била агресор на балканот !Ова е што Модерна Европа и САД Покушува да го избрише одМеморијата на балкаските народи.ПОКРАЈ ГНСНАТА ПОДЕЛБА НА МАКЕДОНИЈА 1913ГОД. не заборавајте првите напал Бомби што ги фрлаа америчките и агличаните во 1947-48год.За масовно уништување на МакедонцитеВо Егејска-јужна МАКЕДОНИЈА.ВО ОВА РУСИЈА НЕМА УДЕЛ .
Highly possible ! And normal, analysing the situation!
If they are stupid, they stay with Europe. If they have some brains left, they build a future with Russia. Europe is 100% self destruction.
Who wants to be part of woke eu? I hope brexit is followed very soon by many countries!
Propose Putin to joint EU and this problem is solved.
Baudouin de Crombrugghe
balkans have never been eu
so what… it’s not only the Balkans that are disillusioned with the EU…
wat verwacht je van een nog grotere diktatuur
I didn’t know the EU owned the Balkans.
Iedere politieker daar heeft stilaan zijn zakken vol met Europees subsidie geld, dat origineel werd toegekend om de nodige aanpassingen te kunnen doen, en dan is het nu weer stilaan tijd om terug naar de oude stal te keren of er ergens tussenin te gaan zweven, misschien wel met een eigen unie, en van beide walletjes datgene wat ze het beste vinden trachten te bemachtigen, maar Europa is Europa en Putin is Putin ze zullen uiteindelijk toch moeten kiezen, denk ik. Met Hong Kong als voorbeeld van reintegratie zou ik toch maar goed nadenken want eerst blijft alles hetzelfde en dan komt de “big boss” op tafel kloppen en word het kiezen of delen.
Putin zradil rusko à Biden hanba fuj terorizmus hiena
yes; yes
hopelijk lijft rusland ze in verdorie
In my opinion the E.U and NATO are the real agressor, 1: Dictatorship on the European civilians. 2: Expanding NATO towards the Russian border. Wake up people!
Europe lost the Balkan to China
So 30 years after the end of the Soviet-Russian domination, the ties with the big Slav brother are growing stronger and stronger. The E.U has botched it all?!
En version français SVP merci
yes poutine not god eco !!yes president
ik vrees er voor