EUROPEAN INTEGRATION & SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE: PROSPECTS & CHALLENGES FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS

Recent enlargement of the EU beyond its traditional Western confines has made it a broad and heterogeneous institution. In the case of the Western Balkan states, the EU has an unprecedented opportunity to change the geopolitical context of Europe by offering them full membership. The policy of enlargement can serve as a tool whereby the Union is able to enhance its presence in the international arena and effectively promote its foreign policy. However, there have recently been signs of backtracking on the EU's part. The paper will present the case for full absorption of the Western Balkan region in the Union in the near future so that not only the Balkan states but also the EU itself may benefit from stability and prosperity in the post-Cold War era.