Bosnia & Herzegovina
New members expected to join EU by 2030 as enlargement momentum builds
Top European Commission officials say admitting new member states to the European Union by 2030 is now a “realistic goal”.
EU’s Kallas warns Bosnia’s EU accession window could close if reforms stall
EU officials have repeatedly said that the bloc’s door remains open to Bosnia, but internal political divisions and delayed reforms have slowed progress toward membership.
US lifts sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik
Dodik has been a dominant figure in Bosnian politics for more than two decades and is a key ally of Serbia and Russia in the region.
Western Balkan countries become emerging players in Europe’s defence efforts
The Western Balkans could play an increasingly important role in strengthening Europe’s security architecture, says a new report from the Carnegie Europe think-tank.
Emerging Europe’s growth holds up but risks loom, says wiiw
Fiscal fragility, weakening industrial demand from Germany, and the prolonged fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine threaten to undermine growth momentum in parts of the region.
UK sanctions Balkan gangs and financiers over people-smuggling networks
Measures target criminal networks involved in producing fake travel documents and an illicit financial group accused of supplying small boat engines to smugglers, Foreign Office says.
EU mulls partial membership plan to ease enlargement and bypass veto risks
Move is aimed at moving forward with enlargement and overcoming resistance from EU members such as Hungary, but reaching consensus to be a challenge.
The EU needs to change to stay geopolitically relevant
Leading EU figures are pushing for the unanimity rule used to make important decisions to be dropped to enable faster enlargement — one of the bloc’s main tools for geopolitical influence.
World Bank projects growth upturn for Western Balkans from 2027
But region needs to focus on job creation and reforms to catch up with average EU living standards within the next 40 years.
Rifts on show at EU-Western Balkan summit in Albania
Differences apparent over EU reform as well as friction between Serbia and Kosovo.
Bosnia adopts reform agenda to unlock EU funds
Bosnia could secure up to €917mn in EU funding after adopting the reform agenda, though the country has already forfeited about €108mn due to delays.
Russia could use UN Security Council presidency to destabilise Bosnia, ISW warns
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will use its United Nations Security Council presidency to “review the implementation of the Dayton Accords”, indicating Kremlin aims to create instability in the Balkans.
EU’s influence declines in its neighbourhood as China and Russia gain ground
Chinese presence growing in Western Balkans, while Russia makes gains in Turkey, shows new index developed by wiiw, Bertelsmann Stiftung and ECIPE.
EBRD says geopolitics, tariffs and China competition weigh on Emerging Europe growth
Development bank downgrades 2025 forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe citing weak external demand, rising debt and the impact of US tariffs.
Bosnia on edge as Dodik weighs next move
Analysts speculate Bosnian Serb leadership could seek to escalate the ongoing crisis, potentially with a push for Republika Srpska's independence.
Lavrov hosts Dodik in Moscow, blames West for Bosnia tensions
Dodik has been seeking support from Russia and other allies after being stripped of his mandate as Republika Srpska president.
Serbia records lowest support for EU in Western Balkans, survey shows
Just 33% of respondents in Serbia backed EU membership, compared with 91% in Albania and 69% in North Macedonia.
BALKAN BLOG: A Bosnian statelet in denial
Milorad Dodik has been stripped of his role as president of Bosnia's Republika Srpska but he is continuing to operate as if still in power.
Putin won’t let me break up Bosnia, says ex-Republika Srpska president Dodik
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik told the BBC he plans to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to support his push for an independence referendum in Republika Srpska.
BALKAN BLOG: Situation in Bosnia risks getting worse before it gets better
Putin-ally Milorad Dodik’s efforts to cling onto power in Bosnia’s Serb entity threaten to further destabilise the country.