The Western Balkans on their European path

Even if surrounded by EU countries, most of the Western Balkans are still waiting for full-fledged EU membership. During The Western Balkans on their European Path, experts from the Balkan countries and the Netherlands explore geopolitical interests and perspectives for the region.

Which role do current tensions within the EU and the Western Balkan region play? What is the legacy of Yugoslavia and its breakup? For the present and the European future?

The former deputy prime minister and defence minister of North Macedonia, Radmila Šekerinska, gives a keynote speech followed by a panel discussion with Tea Tupajić, Marjolein Koster and Wouter Zweers. Participation is free, but online registration is required.

Speed date political ambassadors

Prior to this panel discussion, at 7 p.m., you can participate in a speed date session with political ambassadors from Western Balkan countries – Montenegro (tbc), Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (candidate countries) and Kosovo (potential candidate country). Every 10 minutes, you switch tables and discuss a new statement with a different ambassador.

This speed date session is moderated by Thijs Reuten, Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA) and member of the European Parliament. Register here. Places are limited, so be quick.

About the speakers

Radmila Šekerinska (Skopje, 1972) is the former defense minister of North Macedonia. During her previous term as deputy prime minister for European integration and national coordinator for foreign assistance, North Macedonia was granted EU candidate status by the European Council.

Tea Tupajić (Sarajevo, 1984) is a Croatian theatre and film director. Often engaging in long processes with invited protagonists who always seems to either be reluctant to be on stage or to have a lot to lose, she investigates the potential of art when confronted with controversial political and personal issues. Her work has most recently been described as “glacially paced journey into the world of darkness” (Modern Times Review, Nov 2021). In her documentary film Darkness There and Nothing More she spends a night in an empty theatre with Frank and Harm, two veterans from the Dutch peace mission Dutchbat III in Srebrenica.

Wouter Zweers is a research fellow at Clingendael’s EU & Global Affairs Unit. His research revolves around the external dimension of EU policy making, with a special focus on EU enlargement and the Eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Wouter coordinates Clingendael’s ‘Balkan Hub’, a project in which the Institute engages with think tanks from the Western Balkans in joint research and events.

Marjolein Koster (1990) is a freelance multimedia journalist who focuses on the Western Balkans. She lived in Sarajevo and now she travels to the region every few months to report on subjects such as politics, human rights and environmental issues. Among the media her work is published are Nederlands Dagblad, NPO Radio 1 and RTL Nieuws.