Is the EU Ready and Able to Project Power in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighborhood?

The EU membership trajectory and strategy for Western Balkan countries has been aimed at enhancing stability, resilience, and prosperity, but it is not overall straightforward though. Today the EU finds itself in a ‘before’ and ‘after’ dynamic with respect to its neighborhood strategy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks a pivotal moment that could shift EU policy towards its immediate neighborhood.