Western Balkans

The European Union is preparing membership action plans for the most promising candidate countries, according to Politico. The plans would set out the reforms and steps candidates must complete on the path to joining the bloc. Enlargement is a live issue for the EU, with several countries in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe awaiting progress on their accession bids.

The European Union has voiced concerns about expanding American energy interests in the Western Balkans, flagging worries about growing US influence in a region where Brussels seeks to maintain its own political and economic leverage. The development touches on ongoing competition between Western allies over energy infrastructure and strategic partnerships in the Balkans.