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Protests and parliamentary scuffles raise alarm about government’s attempts to clamp down on civil society
Propping up an ethnically based political system is no way to prepare the former Yugoslav republic for entry to the bloc
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Prime Minister Milojko Spajić wants to join bloc ahead of other western Balkan countries
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Democratic backsliding and warm ties with Russia seem less important to Brussels than co-operation on migration
Madrid remains one of 5 EU capitals that still does not recognise Pristina’s independence
The green light to accession talks shows the bloc is learning to be a strategic power despite failure on aid
Hungary’s Viktor Orbán vetoes financial aid after allowing bloc to start membership talks with Kyiv
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It will be a slow process and European leaders will have their work cut out persuading voters of the merits
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Foreign minister warns Brussels not to look at Balkans ‘with a magnifying glass’ and at Kyiv ‘with rose-tinted glasses’
There are four basic principles that can foster good relations between the two entities
Democratic backsliding and a foreign policy close to Russia cast doubt on whether Belgrade really wants to join the club
Brussels recommends candidate status for a south Caucasus state where Moscow’s influence remains strong
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EU leaders will decide in December on whether to begin negotiations after assessing Kyiv’s progress on reforms
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European commission president backs country’s EU membership ambition during visit to Kyiv
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