20 May 2022

8:00 CEST -12:15 CEST(14:00-18:15 Beijing Time)

Centre for European Studies

East China Normal University, Shanghai

Working language: English

The Western Balkans, situated in Southeast Europe, has always been an important focal point. Historically, it was the place where the WWI was ignited. Towards the end of the 20th century, the Yugoslav Wars lasted for about a decade. Thanks to the EU’s enlargement policy, Croatia was integrated in 2013; Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia become the candidate countries. Although Mrs Von der Leyne stresses that "we want the Western Balkans in the European Union", the most recent Council Conclusion demonstrates that it would still need to take some time for these countries to win the membership of the EU.

While the EU tries to transform the Western Balkan states politically, economically and socially based on the EU values and norms, other players also have their influence in the region. Russia has been active in the region for decades, investing economically and diplomatically to counter the EU’s influence and NATO’s expansion. Yet, since March 2014, the EU has progressively imposed sanctions against Russia, some of the Western Balkan countries also perceive Russia as a threat. By far, four countries out of seven in the region joined NATO, making Russia disappointed and decided to divert its diplomatic and political priority to other regions.

China is relatively a late comer to this region in terms of economic cooperation. China has noticeably enhanced investment in Western Balkan states since 2012 due to the launch of the mechanism of Cooperation of China and Central Eastern European Countries. After Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at the end of 2013, cooperation between China and the Western Balkans has got a new momentum. Political and economic relations as well as people to people contacts develop rapidly during these years.

The US, the EU, China and Russia are the most important players in the world. Why do all these big powers are interested in the Western Balkan region? What are their interests in engaging with the region? How do they compete with each other in the region? Is there cooperation between them? What are the scenarios of relations between the big powers and those states in the region?

In order to explore these questions, the Centre for European Studies of East China Normal University will organise the international conference on “Big Powers in the Western Balkans: Cooperation and/or Competition?”, on 20 May 2022. Due to Covid-19, all the participants will attend the conference online.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

For conference registration, please click here.