WESTERN BALKANS AS POTENTIONAL EU MEMBERS (CASES OF SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

Bogdanova Alena Vitalyevna, Kojоvic Sara

In the current geopolitical situation, maintaining the concept of multi-vector policy presents a host of challenges, therefore, states are facing the issue of working out the most beneficial development strategy. Thus, there are fewer places on the map that, for one reason or another, have not yet joined any influential organizations. The Western Balkans (Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina), directly bordering on a large-scale structure, the EU, are still not its members, having been in the candidate status for many years. This article examines the main obstacles that these countries are handling when trying to enter the European integration. The article also evaluates the prospect of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina joining the EU, since the strategic goal of EU membership in the current situation seems declarative and difficult to implement. The main obstacles in the way to the EU, created both by the organization itself and the states, as well as those that have developed regardless of the actors, are touched upon.

Keywords:Western Balkans, EU, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, integration.