The paper’s Brussels-based columnist Augustin Palokaj writes in an opinion piece that Bosnia-Herzegovina’s application for membership in the EU means that Kosovo is now the only isolated country in the region. According to Palokaj, Kosovo will remain isolated for a long time because chances of being recognized by all EU member states at present are not realistic. “With the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, Kosovo has made the biggest step so far in agreement with the EU, but even this cannot be called a formal step in the process of EU integration. Although it is important not to decrease the value of the SAA, the agreement does not treat Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. Under the current circumstances, the SAA is the most that Kosovo and the EU can reach in their official relations. For anything beyond this, all the member states need to recognize Kosovo. There are major doubts as to whether Kosovo can move forward in the European integration process, and the only thing that Kosovo can do to challenge the EU is to put forward a formal application for EU membership. Perhaps such a step should be taken to challenge these countries who haven't recognize Kosovo but at the same time claim that they have nothing against Kosovo's European agenda," Palokaj writes. According to the journalist, the whole process of enlargement and accession to negotiations may look like a road to nowhere under these circumstances, when the EU itself does not have a safe future. "But as the process remains alive, states should keep following their aspirations and move forward towards EU membership," Palokaj concludes.