North Macedonia

Tensions between Bulgaria and North Macedonia have been on the rise since late January

EU offers recommitment and more support to the Western Balkans but demands reforms and still cannot guarantee accession

The EU-supported upgrade of roads and railways hinges on funding, planning capacity and robust institutions

With EU accession lacking will and commitment, the region faces energy uncertainty, rising inflation and slowing growth

Three agreements bring tangible benefits to Western Balkan citizens, including more workforce mobility across the region

The European Commission's regular reports encourage membership hopefuls but also highlight obstacles

Decarbonisation efforts are stymied by the high cost of energy and insufficient EU funds to offset transition costs

After repeated delays, Western Balkan publics are less inclined to think that EU enlargement will bring them benefits