The European Union is ready to give the Balkans to the United States and Russia
A significant proportion of MEPs are proposing to cut funding for projects in the Western Balkans and Turkey in 2020 and “put an end” to the EU’s political enlargement towards these countries.
RT writes about this today, with reference to the report of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“We welcome the proposed reduction in funding to support political reforms and bring the legislation of the Western Balkan countries into line with the legal norms of the European Union; We call for an end to the political enlargement of the European Union in relation to both the Western Balkans and Turkey,” the report says.
The Bloomberg agency writes that the new composition of the European Commission is in similar positions.
“The new European Commission taking office in Brussels is grappling with a host of issues - including Brexit and growing anti-immigrant rhetoric from the governments of Poland, Hungary and Italy. There is therefore a risk that the Balkans will fall off the EU’s list of priorities, leaving Kosovo and Serbia with no choice but to rely on the US and Russia,” the article says.
According to Bloomberg, in Kosovo they “talk about the United States as a Savior” and “fear Putin’s hand.”
“Kosovo has no sympathy for either Russia or Putin. We don't agree with their agenda. But we see that they are very influential in this region, through Serbia. We see how they are trying to enter our lives, our internal problems,” says former Kosovo “Prime Minister” and militant Ramush Haradinaj.
At the same time, Russia’s position is certainly strong in Serbia.
“Russia offers natural gas at better prices than the United States. It is Serbia's third largest trading partner, after Germany and Italy. The country has supported the Serbs for centuries, including when the region was unified as socialist Yugoslavia. Both countries are Eastern Orthodox, which deepens ties. Public opinion polls show that Serbs have a generally positive view of Russia,” writes Bloomberg.
China plays a significant role in the Western Balkans, having already invested $8,2 billion in the Serbian economy. According to former diplomat Gao Zhikai, official Beijing will not recognize Kosovo in the foreseeable future.
In this situation, the United States intends to put pressure on the “government” of Kosovo and force it to cancel 100% tariffs on Serbian goods, and after that begin to actively cooperate with Belgrade, writes Bloomberg.
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