All talk, no action? Cooperative economic projects have been the hot topic ahead of a conference between leaders from the EU and Western Balkan countries. But EU expansion in the region remains as elusive as ever.

"The future of the Balkans is within the European Union." European Union (EU) leaders made this declaration during the 2003 EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki, but what that means today in real terms remains as unclear as ever. Since those words were uttered, Croatia is the only western Balkan nation to become an EU member. Kosovo's independence from Serbia has further complicated any additional EU enlargement into the western Balkans. Few individuals even mention the word "enlargement."
"Enlargement is like a chicken with its head cut off," a Serbian diplomat told BuzzFeed. "It's still running, but really it's dead."

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