International Conference: Current Security Challenges for the Western Balkan Region Addressed by Means of Joint Responsibility and Cooperation EU INTEGRATION OF BiH AND KOSOVO Whereas the DPA was meant to halt the conict within the BiH, it effectively became an obstacle in the EU integration of this country. The problem was that the EU criteria required more integrationist institutional set up which was practically impossible due to the DPA provisions. Therefore, BiH's ethinc leaders simply abstained from any decision-making, leaving difcult decisions to the High Representative. This in fact deprived BiH from any internal political process, or as described by Chandler, created a situation of'Peace without politics.' On the other side, Kosovo remained under international supervision until the end of 2012, four years after the declaration of independence in 2008. FAter the declaration of independence, the EU required the accomplishment of internal criteria, but the most relevant issue remained dialogue with Belgrade, which effectively overshadowed all other criteria, which to this date remain far from being fullled. Both countries are left out of Visa Liberalization process, even-though other Western Balkan countries have successfully embarked upon this important step towards the EU integration. The truth is that Kosovo's independence has not yet been recognized by 5 EU member states. Nevertheless, these countries have pledged not to create obstacles for Kosovo's EU integration process, nor the relations between the Council and the Commission with Kosovo. On the other side, both among Kosovo's civil society as well as among foreign observers, it is estimated that the'EU has raised the bar too high' for Kosovo, which creates difculties in Kosovo's path towards EU integration. SECURITY RISKS So far, this discussion paper has argued that BiH and Kosovo are fragile states and that their fragility is cause in the large part by inconsistencies of peace-building policies by the international community. Therefore, the delay in their path to EU integration is paradoxical: the EU requires them to change what it forces them to approve on one hand, and on the other, especially in the case of Kosovo, it creates fragility through own dialogue which results in weak institutional set up, which it requires to overcome. This closed circuit then results in political effects that create serious security threats for these countries. To name just a few, the inuence of Belgrade as a malign regional power creates inherent instability both in BiH and in Bosnia. The rst, and foremost secutiry threat for both countries is the lack of effective exercise of jurisdiction of the central government in the whole part of the territory as well as weakening fo the state structure due to the veto exercised by Belgrade regarding institutional development both in Kosovo and in BiH. Second, is the lack of political reform. In Kosovo, after two years of negotiations, political forces were not able to undertake electoral reform due to objections by Kosovo Serb representatives, who are for most part, controlled by the government in Belgrade. This has serious consequences for the functioning of the governing institutions, as proven by the 6­month institutional deadlock after June 2014 elections. 101