The Importance of Western Balkans in Transatlantic Relations Transatlantic Relations and the Impact on the Western Balkans by Si

The Importance of Western Balkans in Transatlantic Relations

Transatlantic Relations and the Impact on the Western Balkans

By Sinan Geci1

Abstract

The transatlantic relations, namely the cooperation between Western European countries and the United States, have made a tremendous impact on the Western Balkan countries and their

Euro-Atlantic future. The cooperation and normalization relations among the former Yugoslav republics and democratic reforms within these countries would not have been achieved without the incentives and the direct involvement of both the European Union countries and the United

States. A few of the Western Balkan countries (Slovenia and Croatia) have joined the European

Union and most of them the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Nonetheless, the full normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo and attaining a legally binding agreement seems so close, yet it is too far. The facilitating role of the European Union is crucial, but the involvement of the US role remains vital as the EU has been proven to be inept in imposing agreements in the Western Balkans. Other actors are intermingling with the Euro-Atlantic future of the Western Balkans as well as complicating the relations amongst the countries in the region and the West.

Keywords: the Western Balkans, the European Union, NATO, the United States of America,

Dayton, Rambouillet, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Russia, Serbia,

Turkey.

1 Ph.D. student, Doctoral School of Military Sciences; National University of Public Service; Budapest ; Hungary; e- mail: [email protected] Introduction

The Western Balkans2 has been a focus of Western Europe in light of the conflicts for centuries, but in particular, in the late 20th and early 21st century. The primary concern has been its proximity to Western Europe and any instability in the Balkans impacts the western world and its allies. More significantly, the Western Balkans has also drawn the attention of the countries across the Atlantic, notably, the United States. The 1990s developments in the Western Balkans had required the intervention of the United States numerous times mostly due to the hesitation and lack of political will of Western Europe to put a halt of conflicts in the region, right on

Western Europe’s backyard. The EU and the USA have had their agreements and disagreements but have continued to maintain relatively excellent cooperation.

The transatlantic relations are commonly known in Europe as the relationship and the cooperation between the EU on one side and the USA and Canada across the Atlantic. The highlight of this relationship mainly emphasizes, and most talked about, the affiliation between the EU and the USA. The transatlantic partners share common democratic values and try to promote these values beyond their regions. Despite recent disagreements, namely during the current USA administration, the EU and the USA continue to cooperate in many areas of shared interest.

Major key players in the region

There are numerous key players that try and shape the future of the Western Balkans. The

European Union as its closest in proximity is naturally the largest partner in support of the

2 The EU and the European Parliament consider the Western Balkans of the countries consisting of: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia. “the Western Balkans.” The European Parliament. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/168/the-western-balkans. (accessed: 02.02.2019).

integration paths of the Western Balkans and reaffirms this support throughout the years. Despite some setbacks and growing Euro- skepticism among some WB countries, the European Council explicitly supports the European perspective and has confirmed it through many initiatives and the Strategy of 2018.3

Along the same line as the EU is the United States which promotes the development and democratization of the WB. The US would prefer to see a stable region with a clear perspective towards the Euro-Atlantic integration. As recently as summer 2017, the US has made it clear, when the US Vice President Mike Pence, declared that the future of the WB is not towards the east but towards the opposite side while pointing out the adversaries that challenge the western perspective of the region. Particularly, Mr. Pence publically indicated the destructive Russian role in the region.4

Just the opposite effort is coming from Russia. Historically, Russia has had close Slavic and

Orthodox bond with certain parts and countries in the WB. The Russian role in the Western

Balkans is enormous as these states are weak and score high on corruption index which has created an opportunity for other players to afflict the region. In fact, in the Concept of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Balkan region is given a strategic focus, noting that “the Balkan region is of great strategic importance to Russia, including its role as a major transportation and infrastructure hub used for supplying gas and oil to European countries.”5 However, this strategic focus is not as economic as much as political. The attempted

3 “Strategy for the Western Balkans.” European Commission. February 2019. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/news/strategy-western-balkans-2018-feb-06_en. (accessed: 02.03.2019).

4 Chan, Sewell, “Mike Pence, in Montenegro, Assures Balkans of U.S. Support.” New York Times. Aug. 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/world/europe/pence-montenegro-markovic-nato.html?_r=0. (accessed: 01.02.2019). 5 “Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation.” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. February 2013. http://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/official_documents/- /asset_publisher/CptICkB6BZ29/content/id/122186. (accessed: 20.03.2019). coup in Montenegro on the eve of its NATO membership demonstrated that Russia is anti- political forces that pursue NATOP membership.6 It is no coincidence that Russia will continue to manipulate and get its hand deep and dirty to destabilize and prevent further NATO expansion towards the WB region; hence, challenging the Euro-Atlantic future of the region.

Historically speaking, another major actor focusing on WB is Turkey. Keeping in mind that for the 15th till the 19th century the Ottomans were in the Balkan region, today Turkey will attempt to return attention to some of these “territories” as part of its natural sphere of influence.

Since Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the current President of Turkey, has been in power, Turkey has invested considerably in the WB - from aid, infrastructure, religious monuments restorations and promoting trade- gaining not only economic but also political influence in the region. Turkey has enhanced its presence in the region thus, increasing its political authority. For instance, in light of the attempt to overthrow the government in 2016, Ankara has blamed Fetullah Gulen, an imam living in the US, for the coup and has taken extreme measures against all those associated with his movement. The WB countries have been a target to this pressure and asked to hand in those who Ankara thinks associate with Fetullah Gulen.7 Although it distinguishes from the Russian role in the region, Turkey is criticized for its pressure on the WB, and its interests and ambitions in the region have grounded some worries in the EU capitals.

Both the US and the EU wish to see a more progressive and democratized Western Balkans.

The WB must not fall under the Russian or Turkey influence; thus, they must pursue and align their domestic reforms in conformity with EU standards and adopt and pursue a foreign policy in accordance with the EU policy. Notably, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, stated

6 Maza, Cristina. “Exclusive: Russian Military Spies Backed Attempt to Assassinate Leader of Montenegro, Report Says.” Newsweek. July 2018. https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russian-military-spies-backed-attempt- assassinate-leader-montenegro-1007324. (accessed: 15.02.2019). 7 Weise, Zia. “Turkey’s Balkan Comeback.” Politico. May 2018. https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-western- balkans-comeback-european-union-recep-tayyip-erdogan/. (accessed: 02.03.2019). while addressing the Members of European Parliament in Strasbourg in 2018, “I don’t want a

Balkans that turns toward Turkey or Russia....”8 This is a warning sign for WB countries to move faster towards Europe.

Viewpoints of some key players

European Union

The European Parliament considers that the EU and the USA cooperate well in security matters. In particular, this collaboration is evident through the North Atlantic Treaty

Organization (NATO) and “effective practical cooperation has been developed between NATO and missions deployed under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in theaters such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Horn of Africa.”9 The position of the European Union towards the Western Balkans is a very EU centric and at the same time the very languid and the bureaucratic culture within the EU intuitions is introduced and keeps implementing its integration process of the WB countries in a plodding pace. This is on the contrary to the dynamic developments in the region and the leisurely approach of the EU towards the WB might backfire and the daily rhetoric in the region, one country against the other could accelerate to a level that may be harmful and undermine years of efforts to stabilize and democratize the region.

United States

8 Radosavljevic, Zoran and Sam Morgan. “The Brief – Macron pulls the Balkan rug” Euractiv. April 2018. https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/the-brief-macron-pulls-the-balkan-rug/. (accessed: 12.03.2019). 9 “Transatlantic relations: USA and Canada.” European Parliament. 2018. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/174/transatlantic-relations-usa-and-canada. (accessed: 18.02.2019). The United States, on the other hand, is more prone to a dynamic approach. So dynamic is the

US approach that it might even be addressed at a close observation that the US in recent years is seeking a quick fix in the Western Balkans. Despite this fact, the United States has taken a principal role very often in the backyard of Europe, mainly due to the inactivity and the politically unwilling capitals in Western Europe to take the lead on the post-Cold War era. The

USA had played a significant role intervening militarily and diplomatically in Former

Yugoslavia to put a halt on major conflicts and wars in the 1990s. The US got involved in the

NATO bombings of Serbian strongholds and provided a significant shift in policy to use force against the Serbs if they continued to attack Bosnia and refused to sit on the negotiating table.10

Indeed, the US President had sent his National Security Adviser Anthony Lake and

Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff to the region in order to propose a framework for peace.11

The US proved to be more successful in solving a European issue in the area of the Balkans. It sent his diplomats continuously to the region to come to terms and end the conflict and reach peace. In addition, in 1995, the US Administration invited to Ohio the Bosnian President Alija

Izetbegović, Serbian President Milošević, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to negotiate a peace agreement and put a halt on the war in Bosnia and preserve Bosnia as a single state made composed of the Bosniak-Croat federation and the Bosnian Serb Republic. The process was led and brokered by the chief U.S peace negotiator Richard Holbrooke, and Secretary of

State Warren Christopher.12 The peace agreement is known as the Dayton Agreement because it took place in Dayton, Ohio, the United States.

10 Clinton, Bill. “Dayton Accords: International Agreement”. https://www.britannica.com/event/Dayton-Accords (accessed: 24.01.2019). 11 Ibid. 12 Ibid The United States also paid close attention and became heavily involved in the Kosovo war at the end of the twentieth century. When the war broke out in Kosovo in early 1998 and went on in

1999, the EU did not step in and take the lead on resolving the problem. It was the USA that sent a clear message to the president of then Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic to bring to an end the oppression and the killing in Kosovo. In fact, it was the personal involvement of the Secretary of

State, Madeleine Albright, who warned Milosevic to accept a U.S.-brokered deal in Rambouillet,

France, in February 1999; otherwise, Yugoslavia would “than face a NATO bombardment.” 13

Her direct involvement had associated the war in Kosovo as "Albright's war."14

On the edge of the NATO bombing on Serbian military forces, the US had sent once again, its special envoy, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to convince Serbian President Slobodan

Milosevic to halt all the attacks on Kosovo Albanians otherwise Serbia would face military response from the Alliance.15 Milosevic did not act in accordance with the requests and NATO began its seventy-seven day air strikes (Operation Allied Force) from March 22, till June 10,

1999.16

During the peace talks for Bosnia, the peace conference was only co-chaired by EU Special

Representative (Carl Bildt) and chaired by the US chief negotiator17 which illustrates the role and the efforts of the transatlantic relations. It was the Kosovo war as well that tested the values upon which the transatlantic Alliance was established, as the former Secretary-General of the North

Atlantic Treaty Organization, Javier Solana, put it “Inaction in the face of the Kosovar plight would have undermined our policies, the credibility of Western institutions, and the transatlantic

13 W. Lippman. Thomas., “State Dept. Miscalculated on Kosovo.” Washington Post. April 1998. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/stories/albright040799.htm?noredirect=on (accessed: 17.02.2019). 14 Ibid. 15“Kosovo.,” NATO. https://www.nato.int/kosovo/history.htm (accessed: 07.02.2019). 16 Ibid 17 Dayton Agreement. https://www.britannica.com/event/Dayton-Accords (accessed: 02.04.2019). relationship.”18 The Western Balkans has shaped the close relationship between Western Europe and the United States.

In fact, the US has supports the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Western Balkan countries and the EU membership. The integration of the Western Balkans into the West family was reiterated by the Vice President of the US, Mike Pence, during his visit to Europe while he attended the Adriatic Charter Summit in Montenegro. During his address to the Western Balkan leaders from Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Slovenia who attended the Adriatic Charter summit, Vice President Pence touched upon advancing the Euro-Atlantic aspirations and reforms in the region. In addition, the Vice President of the US made a clear and loud remark by affirming the US support for the Western Balkans and calling them for closer ties to the West as their future rests with the West. 19

It was mainly the Western Balkans that tested the transatlantic relationship as the US took a leading role in the post-Cold War era to the south of Western Europe for a safe and secure

Europe. As Vice President Pence stated during his visit to Europe and the Western Balkans in

2017 that “the United States of America remains committed to this day to a ‘Europe whole, free, and at peace.’”20

The US national interest remains the continuing support of a peaceful Europe. In this regard, the Western Balkans is included and has enjoyed the encouragement of the US towards Euro-

Atlantic integration through initiatives such as the one mentioned, the US-Adriatic Charter, and practical cooperation through numerous programmes. Indeed, the Vice President, Mike Pence,

18 Solana, Javier. “NATO's Success in Kosovo.” Foreign Affairs. November/December 1999 Issue. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/europe/1999-11-01/natos-success-kosovo (accessed: 05.02.2019). 19 Pence, Mike. “Remarks by the Vice President at the Adriatic Charter Summit” The White House. August 2, 2017. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2437/. (accessed: 22.02.2019). 20 Ibid. emphasized to the WB countries that “Whether your future is in NATO, the European Union, or both, the United States supports you — because either path will strengthen Europe.”21

EU/NATO and Western Balkan Countries

As Yugoslavia disintegrated, its former republics and territories became independent states and sought integration and membership into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty

Organization. Nonetheless, the WB need incentives and support from the EU and Western

European countries in their path to a better and a democratic and prosperous future. There are some EU countries not very receptive and have reasonable doubts towards accepting more states from the region to the Union. Slovenia and Croatia are both EU and NATO members; Albania and Montenegro are only NATO members; while Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia are members of either organization. In fairness, Macedonia signed NATO accession papers in February 2019, after resolving a long-running name dispute with Greece,22 and awaits the ratification from all NATO member States. The only WB country that is neutral to NATO membership is Serbia. In recent days when it has been twenty years of NATO bombing over

Serbian forces to stop the genocide and the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, Serbia remains the only anti-NATO country in the whole region. The Serbian President declared in March 2019 that “the

Serbian people have made the dignified decision that they do not want Serbia to join NATO.”23

The following table illustrates the NATO and EU progress/membership of WB.24

21 Ibid. 22 France-Presse, Agence. “Macedonia Signs NATO Accession Accord After Name-Change Deal.” The Telegraph. 6 February 2019. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/06/macedonia-signs-nato-accession-accord- name-change-deal/. (accessed: 08.02.2019). 23 ”Serbia marks 20 years since NATO bombing campaign.” EURACTIV. Mar 25, 2019. https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/serbia-marks-20-years-since-nato-bombing-campaign/ (accessed: 01.04.2019). 24 Geci, Sinan. “NATO – Russia Relations Correlated with the Euro-Atlantic Perspective of Western Balkan Countries.” Biztonsagpolitika. Published by author in 2016. http://biztonsagpolitika.hu/publikaciok-2016/sinan- geci-nato-russia-relations-correlated-with-the-euro-atlanticperspective-of-western-balkan-countries. (accessed: 02.04.2019).

NATO 25 EU26

PfP Aspiring Member SAA Potential Member Country State Candidate/ State Candidate Albania 1994 Yes Yes 2015 Potential No 2009 candidate Bosnia and 2006 Yes No 2015 Potential No Herzegovina Candidate Kosovo No Yes No 2016 Potential No Candidate Montenegro 2006 Yes Yes 2010 Candidate No 2017 Macedonia 1995 Yes No 2004 Candidate No

Serbia 2006 No No 2013 Candidate No

There are many grounded doubts in the capitals of the EU countries towards the WB, and their arguments are based dominantly on the lack of the rule of law and having weak democratic institutions, along with a long list of unfulfilled EU criteria.

The case of Kosovo

The Kosovo and Serbia disputes also have tested the patience of many already skeptics who dispute the EU enlargement towards the south of the Western Balkans. Bosnia continues facing difficulties in state building and having a functioning state, while Macedonia just recently solved the name issue with Greece and is ready the joining NATO. Kosovo, on the other hand, aspires to join both NATO and the EU, but is far from meeting the requirements of membership; partly

25 North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 2017 http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/ (accessed: 20.01.2019). 26 European Neighbourhood Policy And Enlargement Negotiations. December 6, 2016 https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/ (accessed: 02.01..2019). due to its lack of capacity to fulfill the criteria and partly due to the dialogue process with Serbia and the non-recognizers in the European Union and NATO. To this day, there are still five EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo, despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion in 2010 concluding that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was not in violation of the international law.27 Calls from within Europe, as well as the US, were made towards the non-recognizers from EU member states – Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain – to fall in line with the rest of the EU and recognize Kosovo’s independence.28 At the same time, the US welcomed the ruling of the ICJ and based on this they invited other nations to recognize the new state. The US State Secretary, Hillary Clinton, stated that the ICJ, “decisively agreed with the long-standing view of the United States that Kosovo's declaration of independence is in accordance with international law [...] we call on all states to move beyond the issue of Kosovo's status."29

While the US has backed up the independence of Kosovo and has encouraged countries across continents to recognize Kosovo, the EU has facilitated the dialogue between Serbia and

Kosovo with the hope that they will get closer to the bloc. Despite some progress and meetings at the technical and political level, even between President of Serbia Alexander Vucic and

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, the two countries have countless unresolved issues and lack of implementing the agreements in place. Both countries aim to join the EU, but the latter will not extend invitations to countries to join the bloc which have the border and other issues, as do

Kosovo and Serbia.

27 “Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo” International Court of Justice. 2010. https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/141/16010.pdf (accessed: 27.02.2019). 28 “Court says Kosovo independence ‘not illegal.” Euractiv. 2010 https://www.euractiv.com/section/global- europe/news/court-says-kosovo-independence-not-illegal/ (accessed: 17.02.2019). 29 Ibid. The dialogue between the two not only has it not improved, but it has stagnated and hit a hinge. The failure of Kosovo to join Interpol and UNESCO due to a lobbying campaign from

Serbia against Kosovo; the persistent lobbying from Serbia against the sovereignty of Kosovo and convincing countries not to recognize Kosovo has displeased the latter accusing Serbia of violating its commitment for good neighbourly relations and a setback on the relaxation of relations. Kosovo, then, imposed a customs tariff in November 2018 on productions with origin from within Serbia at first 10 percent and then 100 percent. This tariff was also imposed on

Bosnia and Herzegovina products and banned all imports from these two countries that do not refer Kosovo as the Republic of Kosovo. Furthermore, Serbia has been destructive towards

Kosovo and has not respected the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and for the lack of respecting agreement as a result of the EU facilitated dialogue and accordance reached. 30

This tariff has agitated Belgrade which calls it illegal and has complained at the EU level. The

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was up in arms and quickly responded to this decision made by the Kosovo government, and she noted that “it is in the interest of Kosovo to immediately revoke this decision.”31 The Kosovo Prime Minister, nor did the other political elites in Kosovo, took this ‘threat’ seriously because the EU and in particular the EU foreign policy chief has lost its credibility as a facilitator of the dialogue. The Prime Minister of Kosovo,

Ramush Haradinaj, recently has very often criticized the High Representative of the

European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and questioned her

30 “Prime Minister Haradinaj: Measure of 100 percent towards Serbia, the reason of the blockade of the country to exercise the rights of CEFTA.” Office of the Prime Minister. 21 November 2018. http://kryeministri- ks.net/en/prime-minister-haradinaj-measure-of-100-percent-towards-serbia-the-reason-of-the-blockade-of-the- country-to-exercise-the-rights-of-cefta/ (accessed: 02.02.2019). 31 “EU Urges Kosovo to Drop Tariffs as Political Tensions Mount.” Voice of America. December 2018. https://www.voanews.com/a/eu-urges-kosovo-to-drop-tariffs-as-political-tensions-mount/4705848.html (accessed: 02.02.2019). legitimacy and credibility about facilitating the dialogue particularly criticizing her for not being transparent during the whole dialogue process.32

Knowing that Kosovo would only listen to the US, Serbia has declared that it will stop the dialogue process with Kosovo and complained to the US that Kosovo is against the dialogue and has created obstacles to advance the talks. This is a sufficient reason for the US administration to step in since the US President Donald Trump had sent both presidents of Kosovo and Serbia letters encouraging the dialogue and the achievement of a final agreement between the two countries. The letters contained content that neither party should take any actions to jeopardize this ultimate aim.33

Serbia has continuously contested the independence of Kosovo and has attempted to put a halt on the number of recognition to Kosovo’s independence and on countries that have been shaky ore weak recognizers Serbia is convincing them to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo independence. According to Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, Serbia has been victorious in their offensive persuading at least 12 countries to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo.34

Despite this fact, the US sent a few senior officials to convey a clear message to Kosovo institutions, particularly to Prime Minister Haradinaj, who is against revoking the 100 percent tariff imposed on Serbian and Bosnia and Herzegovina origin products and claims that he will lift the tax duty only when these two countries agree to recognize Kosovo as an independent

32 “Haradinaj on Dacic's Proposal, and ‘Secret Dialogue.’” BETA. February 2019. https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2019&mm=02&dd=20&nav_id=106248. (accessed: 27.03.2019). 33 “Serbian president’s cabinet published the letter from Trump.” N1 Belgrade. December 2018. http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a445718/Serbian-president-s-cabinet-published-letter-from-Trump.html. “President Thaçi received a letter from the President of the USA, Donald Trump.” President of the Republic of Kosovo. December 2018. https://www.president-ksgov.net/en/news/president-thaci-received-a-letter-from-the- president-of-the-usa-donald-trump. (accessed: 27.03.2019). 34 “Another country set to withdraw recognition of Kosovo?” Beta 92. 2019. https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2019&mm=01&dd=18&nav_id=106020 (accessed: 27.04.2019). country.35 Senior officials from the US - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mathew Palmer,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper and John Erath, the Principal Director for

European Affairs in the National Security Council - wrote a letter to Prime Minister Haradinaj,

President Hashim Thaci and the parliament speaker Kadri Veseli to lift the tariff and expressed their astonishment that Kosovo ignored their call to invalidate the tariff “after all we have done together, Kosovo values our friendship so lightly as to ignore our advice.”36

Regarding the recent US position and the pressure towards the Kosovo government to revoke the tariff, it makes Kosovo the party which is undermining and obstructing the dialogue between

Kosovo and Serbia. Additionally, Serbia is victimizing itself and portraying itself as the “good guy” who is pro the dialogue and compromise with Kosovo. Kosovo, on the other hand, has no other political tool at hand to confront Serbia’s aggressive foreign policy and lobbying against

Kosovo’s statehood.

Kosovo and the Kosovars are skeptical towards the European Union and its facilitating role.

There are reasonable and justifiable arguments because the EU has disappointed Kosovars as the only nation in the region that does not enjoy visa-free travel to EU and in terms of the dialogue it has been going on for almost a decade under the EU auspices with no tangible results for

Kosovo. Despite having met more requirements than all countries in the region, Kosovars are still alienated and live in a ‘ghetto’ in the heart of Europe. It has been confirmed by the EU representatives numerous times, and last year by the European Commissioner for Migration,

Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, that Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria

35 “Haradinaj on Dacic's Proposal, and ‘Secret Dialogue.’” BETA. February 2019. https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2019&mm=02&dd=20&nav_id=106248. (accessed: 27.04.2019).

36 Begisholli, Blerta. “Tariff Threatens Kosovo’s Most Important Alliance.” BIRN. February 2019. https://balkaninsight.com/2019/02/15/tariff-threatens-kosovos-most-important-alliance/. (accessed: 17.03.2019). needed for visa-free travel to EU.37 The EU skepticism is growing in Kosovo partly due to promises for the visa-free travel.

Considering the lack of trust towards the EU, Kosovo political elite is asking for the USA involvement in the dialogue with Serbia. This has become a routinely request especially since the

US President Trump wrote to both the president of Kosovo and Serbia encouraging them to reach a final agreement and celebrate that agreement in Washington.38 The US involvement once again is made at the failure of the EU. Perhaps this involvement is not welcomed by some countries in Western Europe and certainly not by the EU High Representative, Federica

Mogherini, for it might undermine her role as a facilitator and the content of the letters clearly indicates that the US encourages the parties to reach a final agreement, Also, the US President will host both presidents in Washington to celebrate such an accord. The EU spokesperson, Maja

Kocijancic, interpreted the letter sent to both presidents of Kosovo and Serbia as an indication of support for the process. However, she made it clear who the main actors are in this process of reaching a legally binding agreement between the two countries noting that “the USA is now an important partner in this important process of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina represented by presidents Vucic and Thaci and assisted by the EU’s High Representative,

Federica Mogherini.”39

37 “Avramopoulos: Kosovo Ready for Visa Liberalization.” European Western Balkans. July 2018. https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2018/07/18/avramopoulos-kosovo-ready-visa-liberalisation/ (accessed: 27.02.2019). 38 “Serbian president’s cabinet published the letter from Trump.” N1 Belgrade. December 2018. http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a445718/Serbian-president-s-cabinet-published-letter-from-Trump.html. “President Thaçi received a letter from the President of the USA, Donald Trump.” President of the Republic of Kosovo. December 2018. https://www.president-ksgov.net/en/news/president-thaci-received-a-letter-from-the- president-of-the-usa-donald-trump (accessed: 27.03.2019). 39 Pajaziti, Muhamer., “EU hails the involvement of the US in the talks between Kosovo and Serbia.” Balkan EU. 2018. https://balkaneu.com/eu-hails-the-involvement-of-the-us-in-the-talks-between-kosovo-and-serbia/ (accessed: 27.02.2019).

Conclusions

Despite the facilitating role of the EU in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the EU role in the Western Balkans, still, there is a need for a better and a more significant part of transatlantic actors as well for a peaceful and prosperous region. The US has been more supportive and encourages the Western Balkan countries to join NATO, and keep emphasizing that all the WB countries belong in the EU. The latter though is less enthusiastic and more bureaucratic in offering an actual perspective for the remaining WB and helping them align their policies with NATO and EU, so they reinvigorate their Euro-Atlantic integration and membership sooner rather than later. The EU and the US must pay attention to the malign policies from Russia undermining the role of the EU and the US in the region; and to the Turkish approach as they enhance their role in the WB which could create problems in the near future for

Western Europe and the US and cause a shift in the political environment as they attempt and shape the future of individual countries in the region and altering the political culture and support that currently exists towards NATO and EU.

The status quo has established a climate of a frozen conflict to the south of the WB. Without a transatlantic approach, as we have witnessed in the past, where a strong EU and USA collaboration and their leadership was needed, the Western Balkans will stagnate for years to come. The prospects of instability in the region are real with a scope of impact more substantial than in the region itself.

The role of main actors and their interests in the WB in a nutshell

The US The EU/NATO Russia Turkey Serbia Kosovo A Stable Claims the WB Destabilizin Tends to Anti- Very pro- region with have an EU g role in the expand its NATO NATO and explicit future but do WB through role in integration pro-EU NATO not maximize Serbia and Muslim policies and membership. integration its role and the Serbs in dominated attitude. Must fully and incentives. Bosnia and countries Pro-Russia normalize its membership Kosovo. while and close relationship goals. The facilitating Undermines reaches cooperation with Serbia role of the High EU and cooperation in and conduct Current Representative NATO agreements numerous sincere administration on the Kosovo institutions. with all fields, reforms in line seeks a quick and Serbia WB. including with EU. fix for issues dialogue has Uses the Challenges security and Challenges in the WB been skeptical the EU role defence. remain with which has compromised attitude of and EU five EU added and questioned the EU to perspective integration countries and perplexity in by key leaders weaken its and due to goal, yet four NATO the whole WB in the region influence in its economic does not ones that do and within and even in the WB influence align its not recognize some capitals some EU furhter and pressures policies its statehood. in the Western capitals. enhance its certain with EU Membership in European geopolitical countries to but it must international countries. EU is creating a sphere of align and fully organizations vacuum which influence. abide by its normalize such as the UN Deeper US will be filled by requests its involvement others who are (“Gulenists” relationship translates to a ready to step in. cases). with deeper Kosovo Russian Security engagement, vacuum could “Where the create US is, Russia opportunities feels the urge for non-western to be” countries.

Open door policy must be instrumentalize d.

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