How to Build a Better Balkans

The renewed US interest in the Balkans partly reflects a desire for wars in this region to remain a thing of the past. Equally important, the United States hopes that the future of the Western Balkans will be that of a contributor to peace and prosperity in the transatlantic community.

Polls that the United States is giving up Europe and are indifferent to the region's fate are simply wrong. However, Washington can do much more than the urge to transform the Western Balkans, from a “baruti”, to a region that radiates progress. Instead of representing fragmentation and division, the region should be an example of integration.

Balkan Split from chaos

A little over a year from now will be another anniversary: the 20th anniversary of the end of the recent Balkan war. While the region has not suffered an open conflict during this period, the Western Balkans still remain a troubled country, often cited as Europe's most fragile part. About two decades after the war, this is not peace”- claimed a human rights activist. The Albanian and Serbian issues are not closed in the Balkans; they are Israel and the Palestine of Europe”.

The current state of the Western Balkan states makes many nervous. In an era of anxiety throughout Europe, it is not beneficial if its most problematic parts begin to swing. Problems in the Balkans refuse to disappear for two reasons: money and geography.

The region's economies are damaging the rest of Europe.

The good news is that the region is the main destination for free holidays. The bad news is that the Balkans is a country where with little money is bought too much influence. Positioned between the Adriatic and the Black Sea, the Balkans are the crossroads between the North and the South, East and the West.

Few parts of Europe have such a position.

Besides the United States and the European Union, the main players include Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and China. In addition, the region's close neighbours, including Greece, Austria and Croatia, have their own interests to protect.

Great importance is how money and influence are used. Among the main concerns, there are active measures on the part of the Russians to undermine EU integration, preventing NATO enlargement, and ensuring the dominance of Russian power. Wounded by unstable economies and external interventions, the Western Balkans face two ongoing challenges.

The first is security. The second is the opening of few jobs, and the creation of wealth. In the security field, the region lives under the constant shadow of unresolved conflicts, which, although not threatening to escalate into open war, create divisive relations, which undermine regional stability and integration.

The main concern is Bosnia and Herzegovina's future, while the unresolved final status agreement between Kosovo and Serbia remains. The region's second major weakness is the lack of economic development and integration.

Moreover, inequalities in the region are disturbing. Economically, Serbia is exceeding its neighbours in economic performance. This creates disbalancing, which can further destabilise the region. Anti-active influences to address these challenges have waned, while threats have diminished a venerable situation that simply allows “tomor” to expand and not reverse.

At one time, many people believed that EU membership would solve all these challenges. That's not true anymore.

The road towards EU membership has been consistently proven slow. Moreover, the EU's commitment to the region suffered a shameful obstacle at London's recent conference, which according to many evidence did not mark any progress. An additional challenge is that if the region does not implement reforms that would seriously liberalise the economy (by promoting growth and job creation), EU entry would only encourage the removal of population and capital in other parts of Europe.

” American of Para” and Balkans

A strong transatlantic partnership is a key element of the US National Security Strategy. The last development the United States would like to see is a Europe destabilised by Balkan problems, as it was in the 1990s.

American officials, including Vice President and Secretary of State and Defence, have already expressed America's great interest in playing a more powerful role in the region. The Western Balkans can play a key role in American vision, for a stronger transatlantic community.

An integrated and prosperous region could help build a stronger Europe base. In addition to the security provided by NATO, and the cohesion of the European community, the United States can help foster a series of bilateral relations, which will become a powerful engine of economic growth, a corridor to ensure energy independence of the free market, and a real building trust for European security.

These bilateral relations would not replace the EU or NATO. Instead, they would provide a foundation of strong and secure national states, which would make these alliances stronger.

5-point plan

To want and build a better Balkans are two different things. In the end, the United States must engage seriously. Elements exist in the American strategy, but Washington must move faster.

America must actively promote a balance of regional security, economic growth and responsible governance throughout the Western Balkans and surrounding countries. This is the best drug against domestic warfare in the region, but also the harmful influence of foreign actors.

Energy

It is not enough for the United States to support the construction of a North-South Energy Corridor. Washington should help make that reality happen. The U.S., should continue to object seriously to the construction of the “Nord Stream II” gas pipeline, and offer strong support to the Tri Seas Initiative. Furthermore, Washington must support the development of nuclear energy in the region, and construction of a southern gas corridor, which does not depend on Russia.

Economic Investments

Private Investment Corporation Beyond the Sea, USAID and the Millennium Corporation are all active in the region. However, the region needs US private investments.

Governance

New investments in the Western Balkans will not make it a better place without a responsible government. The United States should focus constructively on the elements of governance affecting economic freedom, including fighting corruption, strengthening rule of law and reducing employment in the public sector, lowering taxes and public debt.

Security

Washington must continue to walk on two trails at the same time in the Balkans, NATO enlargement (in particular, Macedonia's NATO accession), and promote bilateral security co-operation with the United States and Balkan countries and their neighbours.

Strategy

The United States must continue to implement a global strategy, promoting strategic rivals, including Russia, Iran and China, to end the destabilising foreign policies that harm US interests.

The exercise of pressure on them will eventually make Russia and China name a free, stable and prosperous Western Balkans a good opportunity to get more honest profits on the economic plains than a poor market within their sphere of influence. / “National Interest” World.al

Editorized: Periscope