At summit with regional leaders, French president says thoughts of enlargement have ‘weakened Europe.’

You were expecting a welcome mat? Here’s a bucket of cold water instead.

The European Commission’s new strategy for the Western Balkans holds out the prospect that two countries from the region, Serbia and Montenegro, could “potentially” be ready to join the EU by 2025. It also offers increased support for the four other would-be members from the region that was engulfed by war and civil strife in the 1990s.

Out of the blue, a group of MPs tried late last month to suspend a law regulating the new court. And Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, who was instrumental in getting parliament to approve the court in 2014 under heavy international pressure, now says he would sign such legislation.

The chief judge at an EU organization tasked with improving the rule of law in Kosovo quit and accused other senior members of the mission of corruption and malpractice, Le Monde reported Thursday.

The European Union was hoping to get a firm grip on the Western Balkans at a summit Wednesday, but all it got was a limp handshake.

Serbia’s president-elect on his critics, Merkel and the outlook for the region.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić sat down with POLITICO on Wednesday for his first extensive interview since winning his country’s presidential election in a landslide.

Hashim Thaçi wants an army — but the West says he needs to get the Serb minority on board first.

http://www.politico.eu/article/hashim-thaci-kosovo-leaders-military-maneuvers/