Enver Robelli on developments in the Balkans

On October 26 the genocide trial against former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadžić begins before the UN tribunal in The Hague. Writing in the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, Enver Robelli takes this as an opportunity to analyse developments in the Balkans: "There is a good piece of news for everyone: there's no war in the offing in the Balkans any more. The cooperation among the countries of the region is making slow progress. Croatian firms are investing in Serbia, Belgrade businessmen are showing interest in companies in neighbouring countries, and above all economists are once again dreaming of a 'Yugosphere', of a common market extending from Slovenia to Macedonia. This recent rapprochement became possible because the pressure from the people is so great. People want to finally have a better future, they want to travel, they want more prosperity and to lead normal lives. And they see Europe as a guarantee for this. Only the prospect of speedy integration into the EU is forcing politicians in the Balkans to enact long overdue reforms. If this prospect evaporated the disappointment would be great, and this could endanger stability in Southeast Europe. The enlargement-wary Europeans should bear this in mind."

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU neighbourhood policy, » Netherlands, » Europe, » Serbia, » Bosnia and Herzegovina
All available articles from » Enver Robelli

» To the complete press review of Friday, October 16, 2009