Mahir Sijamija

We cannot expect Bosnia and Herzegovina, or any other candidate country, to join the EU until we develop antibodies to the virus of corruption, crime and nationalist policies that still paralyze Western Balkans.

Bojana Guberac

Croatia joined the European Union on the first day of July, 2013. Many feared joining the EU for various reasons. One of the reasons for such fears related to what the EU would bring us. Yet, nearly eight years later, I have the impression that it is no longer a question of what Europe will bring us, but what we have brought to Europe. That is, who got the better end of the deal in that “arranged marriage”?

Alexandra Voudouri

This year Greece will celebrate its 40^th anniversary as a member of one of the strongest clubs in the world, the European Union. Greece’s European journey has been quite bumpy and brought the country to the edge of an exit from the Union. Learning the hard way, Greece may have secured its position in the Union, but it still cannot find a way to have a strong role in substantially helping or showing solidarity to aspiring EU member states.

Radosveta Vassileva

In 2007, we were so happy and proud to be finally in that mythological space, this pretentious club for the chosen ones known as the EU. Thirteen years after accession, however, this European dream looks more like a nightmare.

Alfonc Rakaj

However tempting or justifiable it may be, Mr. Rama and his regional colleagues would do well not to bite on the hand that “feeds” their people, invest in their future and build their schools.

Butrint Berisha

EU’s internal political developments, led to its inability to implement a consistent and cohesive policy towards Kosovo, which has been demonstrated in the case of the visa liberalization. Currently Kosovo is the only country in the region which is yet to submit the application for membership and is considered only a potential candidate for membership by the EU.

Malinka Ristevska Jordanova

Ultimately, we should acknowledge that the EU cannot simply come up with a recipe that will grant us a better life. We must have our own vision and our own plan.

Dina Bajramspahic

In 2020, none of the six countries of the Western Balkans has made progress in the process of European integration. It is true that they could have done more, but this still begs the question of whether the process itself "is working" if no one is making progress, and many countries have not been making progress for years, decades even. Bad moves on both sides have led to mutual mistrust, which is reflected in reforms.

Katarina Tadic

Serbia started negotiations back in 2014, yet today the country seems further from the EU than it was five years ago.

Danijal Hadzovic

This pandemic might be a chance to implement more profound economic reforms that are much needed for the country, and for which the crisis could be a great opportunity.

Ornela Liperi

Economic recovery won’t be as easy as expected.

Lirim Gashi

Citizens and the economy are the victims of political wars in Kosovo.

Stefan Maric

Self-employed persons, workers in precarious employment or in the "shadow economy", as well as the most socially underprivileged households, are largely left alone again, twisting in the wind.

Milos Krivokapic

Inadequate measures of the Government of Montenegro led to a 138 million euro decrease in deposits in the period from February to April, mostly affecting private companies, whose liquidity was put on the line, and it also led to another 5,000 people joining the unemployment line in April alone.

Mila Kisjova

It appears that the country is coping well with the pandemic, the reality, however, is much scarier.

Nikolina Lednicki

It’s time for drastic changes.

Branimir Jovanovic

Public health and the economy go hand in hand during a pandemic, so the best way to help the economy in the current crisis is to introduce adequate restrictions to control the pandemic.

Edison Jakurti

While most countries in the world have faced a two-fold crisis in terms of their health and economy, Kosovo has been going through a threefold crisis, due to political developments.

Isak Vorgucic

Less than a month after the easing of restrictive measures, Kosovo is facing a sharp increase in the incidence of coronavirus cases, which is no obstacle for political opponents to deal less with the health and well-being of citizens, and more with the continuation of political skirmishes.

Alban Dafa, Redion Qirjazi

COVID-19 was met with a quick response by the Albanian government, yet, it presented opportunities for the Executive to expand its power by sidelining criticism, dominating public perception, disrupting institutional checks and balances, and ignoring due democratic process.