The new proposals for a “light” form of EU membership for the Balkan states mark a departure from the EU’s previous neighborhood policy and are necessary to fill the power vacuum in the region, stabilize the countries, and thereby better protect the EU’s external borders. For the countries in the region, however, economic integration is of paramount importance.
At the same time, the countries in the region are heterogeneous when it comes to EU accession: While Montenegro has comparatively good prospects, the road ahead for other countries, such as Serbia, is still long.
Regarding the open letter published by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Heinemann-Grüder says the document is a peculiar mix of provocations and factual proposals aimed at humiliating Vladimir Putin.
Furthermore, two factions are increasingly visible within Russia: While some are seeking a way out of a war of attrition that cannot be won in its current form, others are advocating for a further escalation of the conflict.