By BV
Britain’s return to the Western Balkans stage through this week’s Berlin Process summit in London signalled renewed European engagement with a region caught between stalled EU enlargement, rising Russian influence and deep domestic divisions.
The one-day gathering, hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and senior EU diplomats. It focused on three priorities: migration control, regional security and economic integration.
Yet behind the carefully worded communiqués and photos of unity, the meeting exposed clear divisions — particularly over the idea of establishing “return hubs” in the Balkans for migrants denied asylum in Western Europe.
UK seeks post-Brexit influence through migration diplomacy
For Britain, the London summit was an opportunity to reassert geopolitical relevance in Europe after years of post-Brexit disengagement. Starmer framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to “shut down criminal migration routes” and strengthen regional border security.
On the eve of the summit, London announced sanctions against 13 individuals and entities across the Balkans accused of human trafficking, forging documents and financing small boat smuggling. The move underscored a security-first approach to migration that the UK hopes the region will adopt.
“Migration and organized crime are shared challenges,” the summit’s conclusions said, adding that a new Joint Migration Task Force will coordinate intelligence-sharing and law enforcement across the Western Balkans, Britain and the EU.
But analysts say Britain’s migration push may clash with local sensitivities. “The idea of turning the Balkans into Europe’s border police carries political costs for regional leaders,” said a Western diplomat in London.
Balkan leaders reject ‘return hubs’
Tensions surfaced over proposals to create centres for rejected asylum seekers. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Montenegro’s Milojko Spajić reportedly rejected any possibility of hosting such facilities, warning they could turn their countries into “dumping grounds” for Europe’s migration problem.
Their stance resonated with growing public opposition in the region, where many view EU migration policies as asymmetric and instrumental. “We are partners, not subcontractors,” one Balkan official told on condition of anonymity.
The disagreement highlighted how the Berlin Process — originally designed to keep the EU accession dream alive — has become a platform for managing Europe’s security anxieties rather than accelerating enlargement.
Berlin Process shifts from EU integration to regional resilience
Launched in 2014, the Berlin Process aimed to promote reconciliation, economic integration and infrastructure development in the Western Balkans. While EU membership remains its long-term goal, progress has been slow, and frustration across the region is mounting.
In London, leaders reaffirmed commitments to deepen economic ties through the Common Regional Market (CRM), enhance digital integration, and promote youth mobility. The UK also pledged up to £24 billion in export finance to support regional infrastructure projects.
But these promises come against a backdrop of widening political instability and democratic backsliding in several Balkan capitals. Analysts warn that economic pledges without governance reforms risk perpetuating dependency rather than development.
Security and geopolitics back on the agenda
Security cooperation featured prominently, with London extending its participation in NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) through 2028 and backing initiatives to counter hybrid threats, cyberattacks and illicit finance.
The summit also endorsed the Hillsborough Castle Declaration on good neighbourly relations — a symbolic attempt to encourage reconciliation in a region where historical grievances still shape politics.
For Brussels and London alike, the Western Balkans remain a geopolitical buffer zone between the EU and Russian influence. Moscow’s media operations and political networks continue to exploit divisions, particularly in Serbia and Bosnia.
“The Berlin Process is no longer just about enlargement; it’s about containment,” said a senior European diplomat familiar with the discussions.
Montenegro to host next summit
The next Berlin Process summit will take place in Montenegro in 2026, where participants are expected to assess progress on migration cooperation and digital integration.
For now, London’s meeting has given the process a temporary boost — but lasting momentum will depend on whether Western partners can offer more than migration control and symbolic funding.
“Without a credible EU perspective, the Western Balkans risk drifting toward geopolitical fatigue,” said a policy analyst with the European Council on Foreign Relations. “What they need is trust, investment, and a pathway — not just policing.”