The European Union (EU), as a global actor, has been taking strategic steps particularly towards the Balkan region to increase its influence in foreign policy. As the geopolitical importance of the region increased in the post-Cold War period, the EU developed a significant foreign policy strategy to include the Balkan countries in European integration both economically and politically. This process accelerated after the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. To ensure stability and peace in the Balkans, the EU pursued policies supporting regional development and led diplomatic resolution processes.
The accession process of the Balkans to the EU has also become an important part of Europe’s enlargement policies. Through partnership agreements and supported reforms with regional countries, the EU encouraged these countries to align with the economic, political, and legal norms of the EU. However, this process was at times disrupted by regional ethnic tensions, political uncertainties, and economic difficulties, prompting the EU to reshape its policies towards the Balkans.
After the disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991, the EU took several strategic steps to ensure peace in the Balkans. The Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995 reshaped the EU’s intervention policy in the region. During this period, the EU, together with the international community, led the signing of peace agreements and laid the groundwork for the integration process of newly formed states with Europe. The Kosovo War in 1999 caused the EU to reconsider its role in the region and contributed to its emergence as an important actor in regional security.
1. EU’s Enlargement Strategy
The EU’s enlargement policy laid the foundation for the roadmap determined for the Balkans towards the late 1990s. Behind these policies lay the creation of a clear perspective for EU membership for Balkan countries and the encouragement of democratic and economic reforms.
The 2003 Thessaloniki Summit was a significant milestone on the road to EU membership for the Balkans. As a result of this summit, the EU conveyed the message that the accession processes of the Western Balkan countries would be accelerated and began establishing relations with these countries under the status of “candidate country.” Within this framework, the Stabilization and Association Agreements (SAA) signed in 2005 with countries like Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo were significant steps reflecting the EU’s approach to the region.
As part of the EU’s enlargement strategy, economic support and reform aid were provided to these countries, and regional cooperation was encouraged. However, the enlargement process faced several obstacles, and from the 2010s onward, the EU’s enlargement policy became more cautious. Political and economic problems experienced especially in countries like Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo slowed the pace of the EU membership process. However, this process also revealed that integration with Europe is a more complex and time-consuming path for the Balkans.[1]
2. EU’s Economic Investments and Regional Development
The EU’s economic investments in the Balkans have been one of the most important tools supporting the reform process in the region. These investments have not only encouraged economic development but also formed the cornerstone of the EU’s enlargement policy. Between 2007 and 2013, the EU invested approximately 12 billion euros in the Balkans, making the region a major priority in terms of economic development. These investments focused particularly on critical areas such as infrastructure projects, public administration reforms, and the strengthening of education and healthcare systems.[2]
The financial support provided by the EU not only offered direct economic benefits for countries in the region but also played a crucial role in their EU integration processes. These investments aimed to facilitate the integration of regional countries into the EU internal market and, at the same time, allowed for steps to be taken to strengthen regional peace and stability along with economic development. The EU launched various funds and support programs to accelerate reforms in the region and helped expand international support networks for the Balkans.
Especially investments in critical sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and digitalization stand out as core projects strengthening the region’s integration with Europe. The energy sector lies at the heart of the EU’s strategic plans in the Balkans, and the projects carried out in this area offer a great opportunity to ensure the region’s energy security. For example, energy infrastructure projects in Serbia and Kosovo aimed not only to increase national energy capacity but also to strengthen regional energy connections and facilitate energy exchange among Balkan countries.
The EU’s investments have not been limited to traditional energy sources; investments in renewable energy have also played an important role in this process. Projects in the field of renewable energy aim to increase energy independence in Balkan countries and promote environmental sustainability. These investments are critically important for transferring the EU’s environmentally friendly energy policies to the Balkans and making the region compatible with developments in global energy markets. Furthermore, integration of Balkan countries into the EU’s common energy market has been one of the main goals in this process. Steps taken towards this goal aim to make the trade of energy sources such as electricity and natural gas more efficient.
Another important dimension of the EU’s investments in the Balkans has been projects in the field of digitalization and technology.[3] Strengthening technological infrastructure is a critical step for the countries in the region to be more effectively integrated into global trade networks. In this context, projects such as digital infrastructure and widespread internet access hold great potential for the countries of the Balkans. Digitalization also helps make public services in the region more efficient and contributes to accelerating alignment with the EU.
It is clear that these investments aim to strengthen regional stability by deepening the relationships of Balkan countries with the EU and integrating the region into the EU internal market. However, political and ethnic obstacles encountered in this process may have affected the pace of economic reforms in the region. To overcome these barriers and ensure closer integration of the region with Europe, the EU has continuously developed diplomatic solutions and pursued supportive policies. In this regard, economic investments have served not only as a tool for regional peace and development but also as part of a foreign policy strategy.
3. Conflicts in the Balkans and the EU’s Role in Peace Processes
Ethnic and religious conflicts in the Balkans have shaped the EU’s policies in the region. The EU has supported peace processes in the region and has also taken steps to reduce ethnic tensions in these countries through diplomatic pressure. Especially after Kosovo declared independence, the EU increased its presence in the region and led dialogue processes between Kosovo and Serbia. During this process, the EU provided economic and political support to Kosovo both for achieving peace and gaining international recognition.
The EU’s development of close relations with countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, and Montenegro has continued in line with the goals of ensuring ethnic peace and economic development in the region. However, the ethnic and cultural diversity in the Balkans has made it difficult for the EU’s policies to be implemented and has sometimes led to disagreements between the EU and Balkan countries.
The future of EU investments in the Balkans may be a turning point in the relations between the countries of the region and the EU. EU financial aid and support programs aim not only for national development but also to promote regional cooperation and political stability. In this process, the EU’s development of more sensitive policies regarding the region’s ethnic and political issues could increase the impact of its investments. The EU’s focus on next-generation digitalization and renewable energy projects could enable the region to become more integrated into global trade networks and strengthen its economic independence.
It is foreseeable that EU investments in the Balkans will create more opportunities for the integration of countries in the region into the EU internal market and contribute to strengthening regional peace. However, the EU must continue with determination and provide more diplomatic support to overcome the political and ethnic obstacles encountered in this process. It should not be forgotten that these investments have not only an economic but also a political dimension. Deepening cooperation between countries in the region and strengthening their relations with the EU is of great importance not only for economic development but also for the stability and security of the Balkans.
In conclusion, the EU’s investments in the Balkans pave the way for regional development and enable countries in the region to build deeper relations with Europe. However, for current obstacles in the region to be overcome and long-term integration to be achieved, it is important that both economic and political strategies are pursued in alignment. This process may be a critical turning point for shaping both an economic and democratic future for the countries in the region.
[1] “Growth Plan for the Western Balkans”, Enlargement, https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/growth-plan-western-balkans_en, (Access Date: 30.04.2025).
[2] Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), https://wbif.eu/, (Access Date: 30.04.2025).
[3] “Digitalization and Technological Development in the Western Balkans”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/ebrd-launches-417-million-programme-help-western-balkans-go-digital-2025-04-10/, (Access Date: 30.04.2025).
