Western Balkans

Hierarchy with a membership fee: how Trump’s Board reprices democracy in Wider Europe

Albania is shaken by its Flamingo revolution, the country’s biggest civic uprising since the fall of communism

Drivers from four countries give Brussels until 14 September to ease 90-day limit or face coordinated closures

Accession delay invites rule of law backsliding, waiting-room fatigue and greater vulnerability to malign interference from the EU’s geopolitical rivals

Russia’s military intelligence organised training programmes in the summer of 2025 at a resort in western Serbia, as well as in Bosnia and near Moscow

Diplomats privately doubt whether Serbia genuinely seeks full EU membership or is primarily interested in access to EU funds

While the EU pushes for a strong European-led solution, success depends on bridging differences with the U.S. and securing buy-in from local actors

Western powers remain divided over who should replace Christian Schmidt, the U.S. is accusing European powers of indecision

Sharp diplomatic exchanges highlight deep divisions as Montenegro advances rapidly toward EU membership while Serbia lags behind

The proposal would create different integration paths: Ukraine would be more closely tied through associated membership than the Western Balkans

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Montenegro’s impressive reforms and said the goal of joining the EU by 2028 is within reach

Washington accuses European members of “indecisiveness” as Italy and France put forward competing candidacies