What is new in the EU Strategy in the Western Balkans?

The new EU Strategy in the Western Balkans is meant to create an impression that Brussels has finally opened the door for the countries of the region to join the Union. However, its careful analysis suggests that its aim is to increase the EU credibility already compromised in the region; to enhance the management tools for controlling and influencing the domestic and foreign policies of the Western Balkan states, and to prevent such powerful rivals as Russia, China, Turkey and Arab countries from securing their positions in the geopolitically important area. The promised EU membership of the accession countries is a matter of uncertain future. In reality, the actual access is subject to many variables which make the time prediction is almost impossible. However, those seeking for the EU membership have already found and successfully tested the way of "spurring" the process of European integration. A demonstrative disobedience to the Brussels' directives, nationalistic rhetorics contradicting with European standards, flirtation with the EU rivals and threats of destabilization - all this has actually caused the emergence of the new Strategy. Therefore, it is reasonable to doubt that it will be effective and significantly increase the region's submission to Brussels, but it will probably allow it to buy time.