conférence / HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND STABILITY IN WESTERN BALKANS

Western Balkan countries have had difficult and painful past, marked with systematic human rights violations and difficult transitions. As such establishing long lasting peace and stability is of paramount importance. Integration of international human rights standards in to constitutional and legal framework, protection of communities and power sharing governance modalities have been seen as the catalyst for overcoming the past and heading towards European integration. However, Russia's war in Ukraine represents a turning point in international relations in general and has significantly affected the common foreign and security policy of the states and also European Union organization. Consequently, by taking place on European soil, and considering the ongoing process on democratization, state and peacebuilding the war in Ukraine has had a significant effect in several Western Balkan countries and indeed in their European Union integrative efforts. This presentation will discuss these aspects: human rights guarantees and protections as a way to overcome and break with the past and establishment of peace and stability in Western Balkans; impact of the Ukrainian war in European Union integrative efforts of Western Balkan states. Also economic and security issues will be touched briefly as a collateral impact of the Russian’s war in Ukraine.

Discutante : Kerstin Peglow