Paper Contents
Abstract
AbstractThe European Unions enlargement policy in the Western Balkans has long been a cornerstone of promoting stability, democracy, and prosperity in the volatile region. However, increasing geopolitical tensions have complicated enlargement, including resurgent Russian influence, China's growing role as a global powerbroker, and internal EU issues like enlargement exhaustion and gridlock. This paper examines how external players and domestic EU politics shape the integration prospects of Western Balkan states. It discusses recent developments such as the EU's 6 billion Reform and Growth Facility and recalibration after Russia invaded Ukraine, arguing the EU needs a more strategic approach countering outside pressures to realize enlargement's transformative potential.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Dr Lorenca Bejko. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
