Summing up the discussions from the three EU summits over the Balkan issues that took place this summer, the Balkan Insight argues the EU enlargement may have been put on hold for the foreseeable future. It further cites Europe’s and US’s increasing concerns over the role of outside powers in the Balkans. Russia, already controlling a large portion of the Balkan energy market, is expected to also take control in the coming months of Croatia’s Agrokor, the region’s largest chain of retailers and the owner of a number of food producers. This, the portal concludes, will further strengthen Russia’s economic presence in the region.
The EU’s foreign policy and security minister, Federica Mogherini, has confirmed she will host a new meeting between Belgrade and Priština next week, reports RTS. The Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci are due to meet in Brussels next Wednesday 18 July.