The migration crisis in the European Union from the Western Balkan perspective

Abstract

Considering the complex nature of the migration, the article focuses on the problem of perception of the crisis from the point of view of the Western Balkans, and above all on the implications of the migration crisis for the countries of the area. The article is not intended to be a holistic analysis of the migration issue. It concentrates only on selected aspects perceived as significant. The implications of the migration crisis for Western Balkan states should be considered at several levels. First of all, the implications of the migration crisis at the level of individual states should be taken into account, even in the context of their security. The second level of analysis is the bilateral relations of the countries of the Western Balkans and the implications of the crisis for their character and dynamics. The third is the regional cooperation of the countries of the Western Balkans. The fourth is the EU-Western Balkan relations. The migration crisis from the perspective of Western Balkan states prompts a number of conclusions. First of all, the impact of the migration crisis on individual countries in the region is varied. Secondly, the migration crisis has highlighted the shortcomings of the region’s cooperation, emphasizing differences in positions and attitudes in the context of coping with the aftermath of the crisis. Thirdly, none of the countries of the region is a destination for immigrants but a transit state on their way to more prosperous Western countries. Fourthly, the migration crisis can have a dynamic impact on the process of integration with the EU subject to the fulfillment of formal requirements by aspiring states.