An arena that is attracting special attention from Beijing and Moscow is the Western Balkans. The six non Member States of the region represent an enclave within the European Union, are economically and financially weak, with poorly consolidated democracies and equipped with ailing health systems. It is true that the EU has announced up to 38 million Euro in additional emergency aid, and a reallocation of pre-accession assistance amounting to 374 million Euro as part of its global reaction to the Western Balkan region´s health emergency in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Yet, will this aid arrive and will it be recognised? And what real aid is being provided by China and Russia in the crisis? The heads of the KAS country offices provide us with assessments from the Western Balkans and the EU Member States Croatia and Slovenia.
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