EU-Western Balkans Summit advances enlargement amid persistent political crises (iss.europa.eu)

• Summit reaffirms EU enlargement but political crises in Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo persist.
• PIC fails to elect new High Representative for Bosnia; deadlock exposes international divisions.
• Serbia's China ties and regional dispute with Montenegro test EU credibility.

"The EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro, on 5 June 2026 reaffirmed the enlargement perspective, but underlying political tensions persist. The Peace Implementation Council failed to agree on a successor for Bosnia's High Representative. Albania faced protests over a Kushner-backed tourism project. Serbia deepened ties with China, prompting EU calls for strategic clarity. The EU withheld €1.5 billion in Growth Plan funds from Serbia over rule-of-law concerns. The summit highlighted gradual integration as the preferred tool, with Montenegro as frontrunner."