Bilateral Disputes_BiEPAG.docx

The future of the Western Balkans (WB6) remains uncertain, with many concerns about the countries in the region persisting. The question remains how to secure the European pathway, when the EU accession for the Western Balkan countries is plagued by number of challenges, making the membership much more of a perspective than a likely realisation for most.This analytical paper aims to provide a nuanced analysis of the outstanding bilateral disputes between the Western Balkan countries and to draw specific conclusions on the state of affairs. More specifically, the paper has two main objectives. One is to map and classify existing bilateral disputes that have major implications for the EU accession process and good-neighbourly relations, particularly border disputes and minority rights issues that have a potential to fuel political disputes between neighbours and at the regional level. The second is to provide analysis of specific bilateral disputes, either still active or resolved, including those from Central and Eastern Europe.