How Will the Russia-Ukraine War Affect the Balkans?

How Will the Russia-Ukraine War Affect the Western Balkans?

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The war in Ukraine changes everything. And we are not talking EU only.

The ongoing war is bringing new military, economic and diplomatic developments as days go by, and causing a serious impact not only on the European Union, which is now responding to a heavy refugee flow and facing a looming prospect of energy supply halt by Moscow, but also brings implications for the SEE countries, exacerbating internal divisions and external pressure as the EU keeps insisting that Serbia, Russia’s traditional ally and EU accession candidate, act to immediately align its foreign policy with that of Brussels and join the anti-Russian sanctions, and as many countries in the region remaining heavily dependent on Russian fossil fuels deliveries. The rabid separatism of pro-Putin Milorad Dodik is Bosnia and Herzegovina is yet another complicating factor. 

Should Moscow retaliate by ceasing to pump gas and oil to Europe, or the European countries decide to stop buying and accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal, the Balkans will certainly feel the repercussions of the political decisions, and countries will be forced to take sides. What does it mean for the economic situation in the region, the rule of law, and the EU enlargement process?

We will be happy to say hello to you again next Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 17.00 CET to our virtual space on Zoom – and reflect on all of these and more together. 

Our guest: 

Patrick F.P. VOLLER is since 2015 the Secretary of External Relations of the European Peoples Party and with his team, especially in charge of the Western Balkan countries, Eastern Partnership area, the MENA region and transatlantic relations. He also coordinates the EPP Foreign Affairs ministerial meetings and administrates EPP membership issues. Before starting his job in Brussels, he was 5 years International Secretary of the Austrian People´s Party ÖVP in Vienna. Voller holds a master’s degree in law with special focus on EU and International law from the University of Vienna, studied as well in Belgium at the Université Catholique de Louvain and completed the Johns Hopkins University Bologna Center – School of Advanced International Studies International Relations post-graduate program in Italy.

Should you wish to take part in the upcoming discussion please fill in the registration form. 

The REGISTRATION DEADLINE is 17 March, 2022 (Thursday), 12:00PM

Zoom meeting code will be sent to the confirmed participants 3 hours before the meeting starts. 

In case of questions, please do not hesitate to contact the responsible project manager Evgenia Jarabik at evgenia.jarabik@schuman-institute.eu. 

Looking forward to see you all in our chat room!

Evgenia Jarabik