Key to the Future of Europe? The Western Balkans in Focus

The Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) and the Hungarian Embassy in Bratislava held a panel discussion entitled “Key to the Future of Europe? The Western Balkans in Focus” on 15 December 2021. The event was moderated by Ferenc Németh, IFAT Research Fellow, and panelists included András Klein, Director of the Western Balkans Department of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary and Tomáš Strážay, Director of the Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA). The main topics of the discussion were the EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans, with special emphasis on the position of the Visegrad Group and its influence over this process.

Panelists agreed on the importance of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans as integration can bring the stability that the EU has long sought in the region. András Klein and Tomáš Strážay also agreed that enlargement is also necessary in economic and security terms.

Mr. Klein highlighted the bilateral economic and intensive trade relations between Hungary and the Western Balkans. He also emphasized the Hungarian national interest regarding the enlargement process, considering the Hungarian minority residing in Vojvodina. Mr. Strážay mentioned how several Western Balkan countries are targets of Slovakia’s development assistance, although foreign trade and investment relations with the region should be improved. Regarding Slovakia’s position on Kosovo–considering that Bratislava has not recognized its independence–the expert stated that Slovakia still supports Kosovo’s visa liberalization, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and its EU integration path. He also acknowledged that there would not be any Slovakian party addressing the recognition of Kosovo in their political agenda in the near future.

Both speakers elaborated on the lack of will for enlargement by the EU. Mr. Strážay, however, criticized the lack of reforms made by the aspiring member states; in contrast, Mr. Klein stressed the case of Kosovo and the withholding of visa liberalization even though Pristina has met all the 95 criteria set by the EU.

In this context, panelists mentioned that the EU is effective in economic cooperation but ineffective in common foreign and security policy towards the Western Balkans. Mr. Strážay explained that the EU has been ineffective in other areas, such as communication on vaccines arriving from the EU. The panelists agreed that the EU needs to communicate more effectively in the region.

The panelists also highlighted positive developments from recent weeks. Mr. Klein mentioned that the EU has opened Cluster 4 with Serbia, and Mr. Strážay noted that the new Bulgarian government might be willing to constructively cooperate with North Macedonia as an example of moving to the right direction.

Both experts agreed that enlargement is primarily a political issue and that there is currently no consensus in the EU on this issue. In addition, enlargement in the Western Balkans is not a priority, although the instability in the region is a continuing problem for the EU, and accession could be the solution.

Regarding the V4, panelists mentioned that the International Visegrad Fund has been effectively cooperating with the Western Balkans Fund and added that the possibility of further cooperation between the V4 and the Berlin Process should also be explored.

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