EU influence over Balkans will continue

Subject

The EU summit with the six countries of the Western Balkans held in Vienna on August 27.

Significance

Launched by Germany in 2014, the so-called 'Berlin Process' aims to keep the region's integration with the EU on track. While a large-scale refugee crisis in Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary overshadowed this year's summit, it nonetheless resolved some outstanding border issues in ex-Yugoslavia and featured a commitment on bilateral disputes.

Impacts

• Serbia will kick off accession talks -- a positive sign for investors.
• Kosovo is likely to join more regional and international institutions.
• EU will invest more in migration controls in the Western Balkans, including an application-processing centre in Macedonia.