Abstract
The Balkan region has long been at the crossroads of migration, both as a place of origin and transit.
This lecture examined contemporary migration governance in the Balkans against the backdrop of EU accession negotiations, in which migration management had become a key element of conditionality, alongside the Copenhagen criteria’s requirements on institutional stability, human rights, and the rule of law. In the context of the unreformed authoritarian tendencies of the region’s entrenched elites (Mujanović 2017; Gordy 2015), migration governance was shaped not only by EU pressure but also by domestic political struggles, elite networks, and historical narratives.
The discussion also reflected on the region’s past experiences as a source of refugee movements—both internally and beyond—and on how these legacies were mobilized, reinterpreted, or ignored in shaping responses to contemporary migration flows. By critically assessing these intersecting factors, the lecture offered insights into the broader implications of EU policies and local governance choices for migration in the region.