The Russian war against Ukraine has provided „collateral benefits“ to the Western Balkans. The war itself and the promise of future EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova, and -- more indefinitely -- Georgia have resulted in new initiatives for the EU accession process of the Western Balkans. The Berlin Process Summit in November, the European Parliament’s adoption of the Picula proposal on EU enlargement on November 23rd, and the EU Western Balkan Summit on December 6th in Tirana -- the first in a Western Balkan country – have sent strong signals to the region. Concrete steps added more substance to the general declarations. These included the agreement to enhance free movement between the countries of the region declared at the Berlin Process Summit as well as the energy support package and willingness to finally give Kosovo the promised visa liberalization announced in Tirana.

I am currently in Belgrade at the invitation of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy. It is as hot here as in Vienna and many other parts of Europe, and the liveliness of the city is comparable to many EU cities. Nevertheless, the meeting of the European Council a few days prior failed to bring this or any other city or country of the Western Balkans any closer to EU membership. In all discussions I have had here in Belgrade, I can sense a deep disappointment over the decision -- or rather non-decision -- of the recent Council meeting.

Thirty years after the beginning of the atrocities in Srebrenica that culminated in genocide in 1995, Luka Cekic and I -- on behalf of the IIP -- paid a visit to the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center and Cemetery in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The visit was organized by an engaged young Austrian who is spending his civil service at the Center. We spent an emotional two days talking to relatives of victims who manage the Center, and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding to serve as the basis for future cooperation between the Center and the IIP for the years ahead. In the coming weeks, the IIP will publishing several interviews completed by Luka Cekic during our visit. In this blog, I will try to present some reflections and conclusions -- particularly in light of the recent atrocities committed in Ukraine.

It is obvious and justified that for the moment, due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the attention of the West and particularly the EU is entirely directed toward the war in Ukraine and the threat of future attacks against Moldova or Georgia. In addition, we can anticipate a largely positive reaction by EU institutions to these three countries’ membership aspirations. But how can people in these countries have confidence in the EU’s reaction to their requests and aspirations when the countries of the Western Balkans have experienced so much neglect and disappointment over the years? What will they think about the promises given to them when they realize how many promises given to countries of the Western Balkans have been broken?

Am 30. März nahm das offizielle Österreich - und viele VertreterInenn auch aus anderen Ländern - Abschied von Dr. Erhard Busek bevor er in einem Ehrengrab der Stadt Wien bestattet wurde. Ich kannte Erhard Busek schon aus der gemeinsamen Zeit in der Wiener Kommunalpolitik. Das standen wir aber parteipolitisch auf gegengesetzter Seite. Aber schon damals hatten wir manche inhaltliche Auffassungen und Ziele gemeinsam. Aber mit seinem Engagement am Balkan kam es zu einer stärkeren Berührung und Übereinstimmung. Schon vor dem Zusammenbruch der Sowjetunion und des Sowjetimperiums hatte Erhard Busek die Zeichen der Zeit erkannt. Er sympathisierte mit der Opposition in den Ländern des Ostblock und kritisierte jene Realpolitiker, die kein Vertrauen in die oppositionellen Kräfte hatten und diesen keine Chance einräumten.