PERSPECTIVE Are the EU and the Balkans drifting apart? BJÖRN KÜHNE February 2010 n Within the EU there is little consideration for and limited knowledge of the negative impact on South Eastern Europe of the EU integration perspective becoming less viable. On the other side, within South Eastern Europe there is little knowledge about the severity of the internal discourse in the EU. n It is a clear case of communicating vessels – as soon as the perception that the enlargement perspective is becoming less viable takes hold in South Eastern Europe, the willingness to engage in crucial, but difficult reform processes fades away and so does the influence of the EU on developments in the region. n It is in the self-interest of the EU to stabilise South Eastern Europe and the enlarge­ment process should not be considered a charitable act of the Union. The discussion should not be about the cost of enlargement, but the costs of non-enlargement. n The main bottleneck of enlargement is the limits of progress in the Western Balkans. But while the reduced pull-factor of the EU should not be neglected, this should not be used as an alibi for ignoring the failure of many South East European governments to engage in crucial reforms of their countries.