Security alliance’s leaders agree a big increase in troop deployments on its Eastern Flank, more help for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, and a new Strategic Concept.
Longtime candidate countries North Macedonia and Albania are still unable to begin accession talks because of a Bulgarian veto, while Montenegro and Serbia are no closer to joining, and Bosnia-Herzegovina has not yet been granted candidate status.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik announces major investment after he blocked Russia sanctions and voiced strong support for Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.
President Dodik threatens to scupper cross-party agreement to work towards EU membership if member states don’t offer candidate status at this week’s EU Council meeting.
Croatia and Slovenia want Bosnia to be given candidate status along with Ukraine at this week’s EU Council meeting.
Bosnian Serb leader travels to St Petersburg for SPIEF 2022 forum after blocking Bosnian efforts to impose sanctions on Russia.
The lack of adequate road infrastructure, as well as road maintenance, has been a persistent impediment to growth in the Western Balkans, but infrastructure bottlenecks are now being addressed.
While most European leaders stayed away from the SPIEF 2022 forum after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Bosnian President Milorad Dodik was there and made a rousing defence of Putin.
On Ukraine's border and with part of its territory controlled by Russia-backed separatists, Moldova is hoping for a positive answer to its application for EU candidate status.
Five EU countries do not recognise Kosovo as an independent state, stymieing its hopes of joining the bloc.
With accession bogged down in political disputes, alternatives to the current EU enlargement process are being considered.
North Macedonia's PM Dimitar Kovacevski says doors to Open Balkan, founded to improve regional economic co-operation, "remain open" to all Western Balkan states.
MPs in Republika Srpska vote to delay withdrawal from Bosnian state-level institutions, seen as a step towards the entity's potential succession.
US accuses Bosnian Federation President Marinko Cavara and Republika Srpska Health Minister Alen Seranic of pursuing ethnonationalist and political agendas “at the expense of the democratic institutions and citizens”.
Despite growing anti-LGBTI rhetoric from politicians across Europe, courts in Bosnia, Bulgaria and Croatia issued rulings reinforcing protection for the rights of LGBTI people.
Austria’s foreign minister calls enlargement the EU’s biggest geopolitical instrument – but will member states use it to encourage candidates and would-be candidates at the upcoming EU Council?
Prompt and decisive government intervention, financial lifelines and firms’ involvement in global value chains have helped minimise insolvencies, says EIB/EBRD report.
EU high commissioner warns decision of most candidate countries to align to the EU sanction policy exposes them to threats from Russia.
The EBRD has cut its 2022 emerging Europe growth forecasts again, reflecting a sharp downgrade for Ukraine and the regional fallout from the war and sanctions.
Across the region, the average publicly guaranteed debt to GDP ratio fell from 60.8% of GDP in 2020 to 56.5% in 2021, a World Bank report shows.