Minorities in the Western Balkans in View of a Future Accession to the European Union

Research aim: to identify how the EU can influence the status of national minorities in the western Balkans while the population manifests an exacerbated nationalism. In the Western Balkans there is a focus on implementing existing commitments at international level. There is a focus on large regional cooperation, an important role being played by the Central European Initiative through its activity dedicated to intercultural cooperation. Another priority is research, education and training of citizens in multicultural societies. The interest of the European Union towards the Balkan area grew considerably because of the area’s increasing strategic importance. After the problem with Kosovo the Western Balkans became one of the EU’s priorities. The last part of the paper focuses on the way in which Serbia and Kosovo under UNMIK administration have implemented mechanisms for the protection of human rights and minorities. The status of minorities in the European Union will improve once the EU reaches supranational status.