MODERN SECURITY RISKS AND THREATS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

Abstract

The Euro-Atlantic perspective and regional cooperation can be listed as the key ingredients of stability in the Western Balkans countries. In fact, the regional cooperation has not only tied together all Western Balkans under a shared purpose, but it has also been the most essential tool of stabilization and association - a process that is effectively paving the way of EU integration for the six Western Balkan countries. Regional cooperation covers a wide range of sectors, among which security cooperation is one of the top priorities. Manifesting many challenges, security cooperation among the Western Balkan countries is a project heavily promoted by the EU, especially some EU member states that have a strong interest in the region. The enhanced cooperation in the security sector is indeed driven by the overall EU objectives in the framework of the EU criteria on good neighborly relations, but also on the resilience and preparedness of the region to respond to security challenges with serious implications for EU countries. Keywords: security, risks, threats, EU, Western Balkan