European geopolitics is a notion that extends beyond the conventional use of the term, beyond international relations and security policy. The planetary “competitive edge” von der Leyen so often invokes, obviously concerns technological advancement, yet the latter is presumed to be a category of geopolitical nature. If the scale is planetary, it puts forward the importance of territorial consolidation and control. Thus, the continent must become compact, not only at the borders but from within. Western Balkans is at the heart of the EU, surrounded by EU states, outside the technocratic yet inside the physical borders of the EU
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It is our great pleasure to share with you our recent study entitled: “Restoring EU’s Credibility and the European Consensus in the Civil Society in N. Macedonia.” The study was supported by Friedrich Naumann Foundation. This version of the study is quotable, so please if you find it useful you can cite it, comment on it, and freely share it with your colleagues. The study is based on extensive research that took the form of surveys, focus groups, and desk analysis, as well as relying on our team’s analytical processing of the data received through field research.
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ISSHS has produced several analyses accompanied by recommendations on the possible exit from the enlargement cul-de-sac due to the Bulgarian-Macedonian dispute.
We believe the core of our recommendations has been addressed by the present General position and Negotiating framework of the EU Council insofar as it contains no reference whatsoever to history, historiography and identity. Issues of cultural conflict, as we define the core of the dispute (see first recommendation cited below, which contains the premise of the definition), have been relegated to the plane of bilateral conflict resolution and hopefully reconciliation.
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