Rome – ESI lecture on the Western Balkans at the NATO Defence College

15 December 2023
Gerald at discussion
Photo: ESI

ESI’s Gerald Knaus gave a lecture at the NATO Defence College on “Nationalist war, democratic peace: Lessons from the Balkans”.

He traced the story of war and peace in Europe from the Cold War era through to the democratisation of Eastern Europe, highlighting regions affected by war since the 1990s, such as the Caucasus, the Balkans, and Ukraine.

Gerald also covered the formation of the European Union, the EU enlargement process, and the integration of new states into NATO. A significant part of his presentation was dedicated to the disintegration of Yugoslavia, detailing the causes and effects of the Balkan wars. Gerald analysed NATO’s successful intervention in the Balkans, noting the transformation of many Western Balkan states into democracies and NATO members.

He expressed concern over the current tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and the resurgence of nationalist sentiments and border disputes. He stressed the EU’s role in reinvigorating the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and offering a tangible EU integration pathway to both countries.

Furthermore, he emphasised the urgency of reinvigorating the accession process for the Western Balkans. He suggested a unified EU goal that motivates all WB6 countries and curtails Russia’s capacity to destabilise the region. He proposed giving Western Balkan countries that meet EU criteria access to the Single Market and the four freedoms. The same should be offered to Ukraine and Moldova.

Gerald at discussion
Photo: ESI