Societal, political and cultural issues in the Western Balkans region have been in the spotlight of the New Direction foundation’s annual Western Balkans Summit for five years running. Recent developments such as the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, as well as the series of conflicts in the neighbourhood mean that the Summit this year will be more relevant than ever.

Once again, the candidate countries are given a clear incentive to conduct reforms, which would enable them to fast track the accession process. The Euroepan Commission has proposed a €6 billion investment package, composed of €2 billion in grants and €4 billion in loans, on the condition of successful delivery of reforms. This is a new hope for the region.

At the same time, tensions are running high. The relations between Serbia and Kosovo are at an all-time high and elsewhere in the region governments are reluctant to conduct the necessary reforms. The consequences of the war in Ukraine, the conflicts in the Middle East and Azerbaijan, pressure continues to loom over the region. The region’s struggling economies continue to be particularly affected by the global inflation crisis and the brain drain. Media freedom and pluralism, seem to have given way to populism and disinformation.

Understanding the challenges the Western Balkans face and coming up with long-term solutions are crucial as the region moves closer to the European Union. The Western Balkans Summit in Sofia has proved to be a much needed platform for the exchange of ideas and solutions between stakeholders and decision makers of the region.
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