Enlargement
All eyes on France after inconclusive enlargement summit debate
After a long night of inconclusive discussions, EU heads of state are set to return to the EU enlargement issue today (18 October). All eyes are on France, as Emmanuel Macron's position has so far been the major stumbling block for opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania.
Visegrad 4, North Macedonia in last-ditch effort to change French enlargement veto
In a last-ditch effort on Wednesday evening (16 October) before a decisive EU summit, the Visegrad Four and North Macedonian officials tried to sway the enlargement mood in Brussels.
France halts EU enlargement
France blocked the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia on Tuesday (15 October), despite the promise made by the EU to Skopje that its historic name deal with Greece, the Prespa agreement, would earn it a ticket to EU membership negotiations.
Leaders must take action, giving signals is not enough
The EU should allow North Macedonia and Albania to sit at the EU accession negotiations table this week - anything else would be a grave political mistake, argues Sergei Stanishev.
Failing to deliver on Albania and North Macedonia will haunt the EU
When the European Council gets together on 17-18 October to decide on the opening of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, they will also be making a decision for the future of the European Union, writes Akri Çipa.
Three countries agree mini Schengen in the Balkans
Three Western Balkan EU hopefuls, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, have decided to advance regional cooperation by forming the so-called "mini-Schengen" in order to improve life and the economy in the region until the EU opens its doors to them.
Kosovo dissident Albin Kurti reaches halls of power
Political prisoner turned parliamentary troublemaker Albin Kurti is within reach of becoming Kosovo's next prime minister after an electoral triumph that could reshape the political scene in Europe's youngest democracy.
Kosovo voters flock to opposition parties in parliamentary poll
The opposition leftist Vetevendosje party was set to come in first in Kosovo’s parliamentary poll on Sunday (6 October), but it will have to negotiate a coalition to form a government.
What does it take for the EU to punch above its weight?
Since the start of the financial and economic crises in 2008/2009, the EU project has lost a considerable part of its standing. A recent forum has raised ideas for reversing the decline of the EU’s ranking in the global arena. Dušan Reljić explains how.
Pompeo warns of ‘Russian bots’ and ‘Chinese bribes’ in the Balkans
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned against the “malign” influence of Russian trolls and Chinese investment during a brief tour through the Western Balkans on Friday (4 October). Washington frequently accuses Moscow of meddling in the region that sits...
MEPs to act as mediators to break Serbian Parliament impasse
European Parliament representatives will attempt to help bring back dialogue to the Serbian parliament, which the opposition has boycotted for months. The first meeting of European and Serbian parliamentarians in Belgrade is to take place in early October, six months before the country's next general election.
Visegrad countries back opening of accession talks with North Macedonia, Albania
Four eastern European Union members on Thursday (12 September) backed the accession of Western Balkan countries to the bloc, saying North Macedonia and Albania should start talks this year.
New US Balkan envoy says restarting Serbia-Kosovo dialogue a priority
The new US Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, said on Tuesday (4 September) a priority in his new role is restarting a dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.
15 countries, and counting, revoke recognition of Kosovo, Serbia says
With Togo becoming the fifteenth country to revoke its recognition of Kosovo, according to Serbia's foreign minister, Belgrade has moved closer to its goal of having half of UN member states not recognising its former province's independence.
Kosovo president sets 6 October as date for snap parliamentary vote
Since Kosovo’s government collapsed last week, Western countries expect a new cabinet to relaunch talks between Belgrade and Pristina and make sure these countries lift obstacles for joining the EU in the longer term.
West urges Kosovo, Serbia to restart talks ‘with urgency’
Western powers on Tuesday (13 August) urged foes Serbia and Kosovo to reboot their stalled dialogue "with urgency", warning that the lack of progress is hindering their dreams of joining the European Union.
Rival Bosnia leaders agree to form government 10 months after vote
Bosnia's rival Serb, Croat and Bosniak leaders agreed on Monday (5 August) to form a central government 10 months after a general election, reaching a compromise about Bosnia's integration into NATO which had been a key stumbling block.
The Brief, powered by BP – Time for New Democracy to apologise
Realpolitik can be tricky. It often makes politicians go back on things they had promised before taking office. Greece's newly-elected centre-right government is a case in point. It’s high time they apologised for their stance on the North Macedonia name change deal.
Moldova FM: We want to move as quickly as possible on EU accession
There is a high consensus in Moldova that we want good relations with Brussels and Moscow, but we have no alternative to strong pro-European integration, Moldova's new foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
German arms exports to Ankara continue despite escalating Greek-Turkish crisis
Tensions have escalated between Turkey and two EU member states – Greece and Cyprus. But that hasn't stopped another EU country, Germany, to continue exporting arms to Ankara, according to official government data.
Serbia to join the EU when both sides are ready, leaders say
Serbia will join the EU only when it is deemed ready and the bloc has been reformed and fit to take in new members, the presidents of Serbia and France agreed during Emmanuel Macron's visit to the country. But Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić quietly conceded that Belgrade would not be able to join the EU in 2025. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
Belgrade condemns ‘hate’ after Orthodox graves in Kosovo vandalised
Graves at a Serbian Orthodox cemetery in Kosovo have been vandalised, police said on Sunday (14 July), in an incident that comes at a time of rising tension between Belgrade and Pristina.
Georgia suggests taking an unconventional path to EU accession
Georgia staked its claim to becoming an EU member on Thursday (11 July), even if it meant an innovative approach and "knocking on every door", its president told an international conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi.