The Balkans, The EU and the Others

The relations between the European Union and the Western Balkan countries have been key discussion topics of the online event “The Balkans, the EU and the Others” organized and hosted by the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) on May 14, 2020.

Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) was represented in the panel by Plator Avdiu, Researcher at the KCSS who presented from the civil society perspective. He was focused on recent developments with regard to internal and external security and political situation in Kosovo in the time of COVID-19 pandemic. He analysed the situation when the government toppled in March 2020 and ongoing events related to dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, more precisely the involvement of the United States.

Avdiu offered also his stances on the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Zagreb on 6 May which did not result on granting visa liberalisation for the Kosovo citizens or making any reference in this regard.

The keynote speech on this event was delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Emanuela Del Re. While other panellists were: Dimitar Bechev (Senior Researcher at the Atlantic Council), Simonida Kacarska (Director of the European Policy Institute from North Macedonia), Albert Rakipi (Chairman of the Albanian Institute for International Studies from Albania) and Milena Lazarević (Programme Director of the European Policy Center from Serbia). In addition, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi provided his closing remarks as well.

The full event can be accessed on the following Facebook stream link.