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The future of 20 million people in the six Western Balkans States. A key question for Europe's geopolitical future

Author: Christoph Zöpel

• european union
• Balkans
• accession

The European Union has an obvious interest in the wealth and stability of the six Western Balkan states. Yet, the situation in these countries is growing into a threat for the EU. In this paper, the author will assess the reasons why the WB6 are crucial for Europe, the state of negotiations and obstacles to accession, as well as the reasons why the EU’s traditionally bureaucratic-paternalistic approach to this region cannot be successful.

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