Disclaimer: The research for and production of this report has been conducted within the PROGRESS research framework agreement. Responsibility for the contents and for the opinions expressed, rests solely with the authors and does not constitute, nor should be construed as, an endorsement by the Netherlands Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence.

About the authors

Wouter Zweers is a Research Fellow at the EU & Global Affairs Unit of the Clingendael Institute. His research revolves around the external dimension of EU policymaking with a specific focus on the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions. He coordinates Clingendael’s ‘Balkans Hub’, a project in which Clingendael engages with think tanks from the Western Balkans in joint research and events.

Niels Drost is Junior Researcher at the Clingendael Russia & Eastern Europe Centre and the EU & Global Affairs Unit. His research focuses on contemporary politics and security issues in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Baptiste Henry is a Research Assistant at the EU & Global Affairs Unit of the Clingendael Institute, where he focuses on EU Neighbourhood and Enlargement policies.

Photo credits

Meeting of Aleksandar Vučić and Vladimir Putin on January 17, 2019 in Belgrade (Serbia)
© Kremlin