Thus The Economist on the Western Balkans and the European Union in its current edition. “The door to membership remains open, but the region must do more to get in,” explains the newspaper. The incoming president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, promised that negotiations would continue, but he added that no further enlargement would take place over the next five years. In short, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania are in the doldrums. The outgoing enlargement commissioner, Stefan Füle, was not pleased. “It was a wrong message to the Western Balkans at a wrong time.” I could not agree more. Serbia is already leaning toward Russia. Muslims in Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Albania cannot but lean toward Turkey. Besides, America has its fingers in Bosnia and Kosovo, but it is anyone’s guess how will it behave in view of its growing isolationism. All this does not bode well. According to the article, though, the region will shortly acquire a new ally in Brussels: Federica Mogherini, the incoming high representative for foreign policy in the Union. Purportedly, she understands that enlargement is a security issue. Stability in the Western Balkans is an asset for all. All the six countries in the queue need to do is press on with their homework. I wonder. The Balkans have been hard to manage ever since Roman times. Chances are that Juncker is in for a few surprises in the next five years.