The EU is obsessed with Ukraine while the Western Balkans get the cold shoulder! Zoran Milanović and Rumen Radev are not holding back as they expose the brutal injustice in the EU enlargement process. While Ukraine, a country at war with clearly defined territories, is given priority, Montenegro and North Macedonia remain stuck in bureaucratic and political blockades. Milanović calls this attitude a ‘brazen insult’ and ‘shameless cynicism’ that is destroying the Western Balkan countries. Bulgarian President Radev adds that Sofia is not blocking North Macedonia, but the problem lies in the failure to meet criteria, especially regarding human rights.
EU’s Ukraine Obsession: Who’s Paying the Price?
As Europe pours all its resources into Ukraine, the Western Balkans suffer. Milanović bluntly states that Ukraine cannot finance the war on its own and that it is unfair to put it ahead of countries that have waited decades for membership. “We are ruining that country,” he says. Is the EU truly interested in regional stability, or is it just using Ukraine as an excuse to cling to power?
Bulgaria and North Macedonia: The Dispute Holding Back the Whole Region
Bulgarian President Radev reveals that Sofia has been waiting for three years for Skopje to fulfill a single condition – the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in the Macedonian constitution. “We are not imposing additional conditions, we just want the agreed terms fulfilled,” says Radev. This dispute has become a symbol of political games and blackmail that stall the European integration of the entire Western Balkans.
Croatia: A Success Story, But Also a Warning
Milanović emphasizes that Croatia had to meet more criteria than anyone else on its path to the EU, but he does not hide that he expects some Western Balkan countries to enter the EU less prepared. “There is life outside the EU,” he says, stressing the need for open and realistic conversations.
What’s Next?
While the EU continues to focus on Ukraine as if it’s the only way to survive, the Western Balkans remain in limbo. Will the policy that favors geopolitical interests over justice and reforms ever change? Milanović and Radev shed light on this dark side of European politics.
If you thought the EU was fair to everyone, think again! What do you think about this hypocrisy? Is Ukraine really more important than countries that have waited decades for their turn? Drop a comment, let the voice of reason or at least some good sarcasm be heard!
