An analysis deciphers the rivalries for influence and the obstacles to European integration in the Balkans.
Published on September 24, 2026, the October-November issue of Questions internationales dedicated to the Balkans brings together contributions from historians, political scientists, and diplomats. Its title, « The Balkans: Fragmented and Coveted, » summarizes two related but distinct issues: the tensions inherited from the formation of the region’s states and the competition between powers, as several countries seek closer ties with the European Union. The term « political laboratory, » used in its introduction, is an editorial interpretation, not a scientific category nor proof of a single trend across the entire region. ( vie-publique.fr )
From the Balkans to the Western Balkans: what are we talking about?
The term « Balkans » refers to a geographical and historical region whose borders vary depending on usage. The expression « Western Balkans, » however, corresponds to a specific political entity used by the European Union: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. This group should not be confused with all the Balkan countries, nor with the list of EU candidate countries. Turkey, also a candidate for accession, is not among the six Western Balkan partners. ( enlargement.ec.europa.eu )
The fragmentation discussed in this issue refers in particular to the political transformations that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia. The creation of new states did not eliminate disagreements over borders, national identities, and war memories. The issue’s table of contents therefore includes an article on state reconfiguration and post-Yugoslav memory issues. These legacies help to shed light on current tensions, but are not sufficient on their own to explain every political crisis. ( vie-publique.fr )
A multi-speed European integration
Closer ties with the European Union are not a uniform process, nor is membership guaranteed. The countries concerned progress according to their own negotiations and reforms, assessed in particular with regard to the rule of law, the functioning of institutions, and fundamental rights. The EU presents enlargement as a process based on the progress of each candidate country: obstacles and the pace therefore differ from one country to another. ( consilium.europa.eu )
This integration is not limited to accession negotiations. The European growth plan for the Western Balkans provides up to €6 billion for the period 2024-2027, in the form of grants and loans, in exchange for reforms and meas that foster economic ties with the EU and between the countries of the region. This is a lump sum allocated through a specific mechanism, not an amount that each country has already received. It illustrates how the Union combines financial incentives, phased access to certain mechanisms, and political conditions. ( consilium.europa.eu )
European assessments also highlight obstacles. In its 2025 enlargement report, the Commission noted in particular that political crises had hampered reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. These findings are those of an institution involved in the accession process: they provide information about its criteria and assessments, but do not replace an independent analysis of each national situation. ( enlargement.ec.europa.eu )
Multiple influences, but not equivalent ones
The report’s introduction cites Russia, China, Turkey, and the European Union among the actors seeking to exert influence in the region. Speaking of « competition » does not imply that these powers possess the same resources or pursue the same objectives. Influence can be exerted through trade, infrastructure financing, energy, diplomacy, or the dissemination of political narratives. It is therefore necessary to examine the instruments and situations on a country-by-country basis, rather than imagining a uniform confrontation between blocs.
Economically, the EU remains a key partner: according to the Council of the EU, it accounted for 62% of the trade of the six Western Balkan partners in 2026 data. This position lends weight to the European relationship, but does not mean that other actors are absent. An ECFR analysis on China, for example, argues that the Chinese presence warrants attention and emphasizes that the lack of clearly defined European conditions for relations with Beijing constitutes a blind spot in the enlargement process. This is the analysis of this research center, not a statistical assessment of all influences. ( consilium.europa.eu )
What we can conclude — and what remains uncertain
This dossier invites us to consider the Balkans as a space where different national trajectories, contested memories, and geopolitical choices intersect. It also reminds us that European enlargement is not merely a matter of timing: it involves institutions, reforms, and relations between neighbors. However, the introductory text of this issue does not, on its own, provide the detailed conclusions of its authors. We can therefore retain the announced themes without attributing to the dossier results that are not found in the available source material, nor predict the outcome of the negotiations.
Source: vie-publique.fr – Publications of La Documentation française
Original article: See the original source
