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The purpose of this research paper is to determine factors of credit risk expressed in terms of non-performing loans in six countries of the Western Balkans (Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia). The research uses different econometric techniques for the presentation of econometric models, where 4 models are used: OLS, fixed-effects model, random-effects model, and Hausman Taylor IV estimators. The results from the empirical analysis presented show that unemployment and the real interest rate have a positive impact on the growth of non-performing loans where both coefficients are statistically significant at the 1% level, while other variables (financial stability, economic growth, and inflation) show a statistically significant negative impact. These findings are important for the decision-makers of the financial systems of these countries, especially countries that have limited use of monetary policy, making decisions to create greater financial stability to reduce credit risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study primarily aims to draw attention to the role of the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) in North Macedonia's1 transition from a hybrid regime to a standard democracy from 2015 to the present. The stability of the country has been of paramount importance for the Western interests, thus the EU and US have continuously supported successive governments to uphold the de-facto power-sharing system that prevailed since its independence in the early 1990s. By employing Levitsky and Way's theoretical framework of linkage and leverage, this study aims to elucidate the decisive roles played by the EU and the US in cultivating the conditions necessitated for North Macedonia's gradual democratic transition after 2015. To do this it addresses political developments in North Macedonia, discusses the problems that aroused during this transition period, which are inherited in a lack of democratic culture and widespread corruption, and finally, suggests that as the Macedonia example demonstrated, EU support and tutelage is critical during such challenging transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper empirically analyses the determining factors of the growth in the migration rate in the countries of the Western Balkans. The analysis is carried out with panel data over 17 years from 2005 to 2021. The purpose of this paper is to analyse social variables such as unemployment and standard of living, and political variables such as corruption, political stability, government effectiveness, rule of law and the level of corruption in the migration of citizens. For this purpose, we employ different econometric models and techniques such as OLS, OLS robust fixed and random effects models, and GMM (generalized method of moments). The study's findings demonstrate that high levels of unemployment in the Western Balkan region are the primary cause of the surge in migration; thus, large levels of labour force migration are also present in these countries. The findings also show that variables related to the political situation have statistical significance in reducing migration. The paper does not find a statistically significant influence of the level of corruption on migration. The recommendations for the countries of the Western Balkan region are to create long-term sustainable employment policies and increase wages as preventive measures for migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Balkan context, the treatment of intelligence services in scientific terms has been addressed in the second half of the 1990s by several international authors, while from the aspect of the functioning of these agencies themselves, it has been a taboo topic due to the specifics of the systems of the past. In the democratic system, where the legal norm has established rules of operation and control, many scholars treat this matter in different dimensions within the academic framework and within the framework of national security policies. This research refers to the regional context of intelligence services in the parliamentary system, trying to analyze by comparative method some of the Western Balkan countries. The purpose of this study is to provide important legal elements, systematizing knowledge in aspects specifically related to the competencies, monitoring, control and oversight of state intelligence agencies in the democratic system of operation in the regional context in the Western Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to measure the influence of COVID-19 on the capital structure of Western Balkans commercial banks, before and during COVID-19 using annual data for the period 2015 - 2020. Using pooled ordinary least squares regressions, the relationship between bank book leverage as the dependent variable and bank-specific explanatory variables such as profitability, Tier 1 capital, bank size, collateral, earnings volatility, and liquidity is investigated. COVID-19 as an independent variable is also presented in this paper. GDP and inflation are control (constant) variables that influence the outcome. By regressing the panel data, we conclude that the comparison of factors affecting the capital structure of the respective commercial banks, in the form of profitability, leverage ratio, size, collateral, earnings volatility and liquidity, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, tend to have significantly different values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few scholars have dedicated their attention to the role of think tanks as policy experts within captured states. We investigate how, why, and to what extent think tanks are used in the captured states in the Western Balkans. Our assumption was that think tanks could become party to the processes of "capture". However, original findings from focus group and interviews with think tankers show that think tank expertise is perceived as an imposed obligation--from external pressures and existing national regulatory frameworks. Accordingly, incorporation of think tank policy advice is fulfilled to an extent, but not necessarily for the sake of improving the quality of public policies. In this environment, think tanks are enrolled in the simulacra of inclusive policy deliberation without substantially influencing policy making. Nevertheless, these organizations have developed creative mechanisms to survive, preserve their independence, and still foster advice uptake within captured bureaucracies. Openly value-driven advice is the overarching one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore the short-term economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the insurance market with particular emphasis on the Western Balkan countries. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus). This is a rare event, one we have not seen in 100 years, with major consequences for public health, economics and politics. The decline in purchasing power, the economic downturn, the decline in consumption, the rise in inflation will have a major impact on the development of the insurance market. Demand for insurance products worldwide has declined: whether health, life or non-life. The paper will trace the ability of insurance companies to manage the risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Consumer protection, protection of insurance contracts, investment risk management, solvency risk management and inflationary risk. The complete sample of the work will have the insurance market in the Western Balkans. The paper will be drafted based on statistical, analytical and comparative methods. The insurance market in these countries is small, but enables a study on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on insurance activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the impact and dynamics of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the transition economies of the Western Balkans (WB) countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. In this paper, it can be seen a review of the political, institutional, economic and historical circumstances that have influenced the delay in the transition of the economies of the Western Balkan countries and the impact it had on foreign direct investments. Regardless of the time distance, changes in political and economic circumstances and the perspective of EU integration, the countries of the Western Balkans do not attract enough foreign direct investments compared to other countries in transition. The article also explores the performance of foreign direct investments (2010-2021) and the main differences that the countries of the Western Balkans have in the volume, time, sectorial distribution and origin of foreign direct investments. To achieve this goal of comparative analysis and identification, the integrative review method was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista UNISCI is the property of Unidad de Investigaciones Sobre Seguridad y Cooperacion International (UNISCI) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Review of International Affairs (04866096) is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Review of International Affairs (04866096) is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals for Istrian & Mediterranean Studies / Annales: Series Historia et Sociologia is the property of Historical Society of Southern Primorska of Koper and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper aims to explain some current considerations and approaches about the credit activity in Albania compared to the other countries in the Western Balkan's region in terms of bank-specific indicators. During 2020 and in the first half of 2021, the evolution of bank credit in the Western Balkan countries continued to be positive, influenced by monetary easing, support for credit risk reduction and other support policies offered by central banks. The balance sheet of banks in the region has improved over the period, and the non-performing loan rate has declined compared to a year ago in most countries. Among the various lending measures, the study of credit activity will be focused on bank credit (loans and advances) to the private sector, one of the most important indicators of bank development. Using a qualitative and quantitative analysis, the main objective of this paper is to generate and explain through a descriptive and graphical analysis, the evolution of the bank credit to the private sector for the six countries of the Western Balkans, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Countries in the region have benefited from a substantial inflow of foreign funds and cross-border loans before the crisis. When the financial crisis broke out, credit growth declined dramatically and did not begin to recover, in part due to the banking sector's reversal in external financing. The COVID-19 pandemic also brought a sudden negative revision of expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals and plants, both farmed and hunted/collected, were an integrated part of the Neolithic food economy. When jointly analysed these can provide a holistic view of early food production systems which goes beyond individual descriptions of herd management and crop cultivation. Exhaustive surveys of both Neolithic zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical data were collected from the western Balkans and neighbouring regions (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, southern Hungary, western Romania and eastern Italy). Here we combine both sets of data to explore the Neolithic food economy along the maritime and inland streams of Neolithisation. We demonstrate that, notwithstanding significant limitations, it is possible to compare and combine the datasets and present an integrated approach to the spread and development of farming within the western Balkans. Our research also evinces diachronic and spatial differences within the exploitation of domesticated and wild species, and the factors that may have influenced such practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Review of International Affairs (04866096) is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

According to recent trends, there is a focus on the interest in the Western Balkan economies to attract foreign capital in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI) as a source of external financing and economic recovery factor. In this paper, an attempt is made to analyze the movement and impact of FDI on economic growth and foreign trade on the example of the Western Balkans (North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro). This analysis aims to examine the correlation and causal relationship between FDI, economic growth and the foreign trade case of each individual Western Balkan country. The inflow of foreign capital in the form of FDI in the Western Balkan countries has a positive impact on GDP growth, exports and imports. From the results, it can be concluded that the inflow of FDI into the Western Balkan countries has a positive effect on the economic growth and the increase of foreign trade. The analysis showed that FDI has a statistically significant and positive impact on GDP in the Western Balkan countries, and is a key precondition for intensifying foreign trade. This study provides a promising step towards developing a more comprehensive empirical research by a dynamic estimation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bank's performance is its ability to generate sustainable profitability. Although banking institutions have become increasingly complex, the key factors in their performance remain earnings, risk-taking efficiency and financial leverage. The countries of the Western Balkans have some common features: the history of socioeconomic development, the transformations that have taken place, the reforms undertaken, liberalization, restructuring and the path to development. Their financial sector is primarily bank-based, so the soundness of the banking sector is significantly important for the stability and progress of their economies in the long term. Using a qualitative and quantitative analysis, the main objective of this paper is to generate and explain the main features about the role and financial performance of banks in the Western Balkans. The research methodology is based in explaining through a descriptive and graphical analysis, the particularities of the main banking systems in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia, presenting the four main performance measurement indicators: return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), cost-to-income ratio and net interest margin. Analyzing the data for the period 2000-2019, it was assessed that the region is quite consistent in terms of the performance of the banking sector, the latter being almost equally dynamic for all four countries. The regional economic environment does not favor the stability of the financial system, but prevents the increase of the efficiency and productivity of the banking sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE MAIN AIM OF THIS PAPER IS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATE OF PLAY AND THE MAIN RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN THE SIX COUNTRIES OF THE WESTERN BALKANS (ALBANIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, KOSOVO, MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO, AND SERBIA), HIGHLIGHTING THE SIMILARITIES AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE COUNTRIES. THE STUDY FOCUSES ON KEY INDICATORS ON HOW GOVERNMENTS IN THIS REGION WORK AND PERFORM, UNDERLINING THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE SHORTCOMINGS IN THE FOLLOWING THREE AREAS: POLICY MAKING, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND SERVICE DELIVERY. ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEAR THAT THE COUNTRIES OF THE WESTERN BALKANS FACE CHALLENGES AND SHORTCOMINGS IN IMPLEMENTING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORMS, THE RESULTS EMPHASIZE THE EXISTENCE OF FORMAL RULES AND THE STEPS MADE TOWARDS COMPLYING WITH THESE STANDARDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zgodovinski Casopis is the property of Zveza Zgodovinskih Drustev Slovenije and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The geopolitical significance of the Balkans can be observed throughout the majority of its history deriving mainly from its relative position between continents, close to strategic maritime and land routes. In certain political circumstances this position attracted regional and great powers which resulted in their direct involvement in "Balkan affairs", which was made easier by the fragmented ethnic and political nature of the region. One particular field of involvement has been the construction of strategic transportation infrastructure which characterizes the current situation as well. After briefly touching upon the general geopolitical significance of transportation, we argue that the examined external powers (the EU, Russia, China, and Turkey) involved in planning and financing the ongoing infrastructure development in the Western-Balkans are doing so in a geopolitical framework, where the investments also aim to bolster the influence of the investor country in the region. The priorities and logic behind these moves can differ, but all actors use infrastructure as an overtly expressed field of their strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Review of International Affairs (04866096) is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pregled is the property of University of Sarajevo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

What marked the Croatia's history from the 1990s to the beginning of the 21st century was its accession to the EU after long and difficult six-year membership negotiations (2005-2011). It was the only state from the Western Balkans region that so far had succeeded alone and not in a group in joining the Union as its 28th member on July 1, 2013. Unlike Slovenia, Croatia lagged dramatically in the 1990s, possessed by a strong nationalism, hostile to the very idea of a united Europe. Only when the nationalistic Croatian Democratic Union lost power in 2000, the foreign policy of the country became pro-European and pro-Nato. But Croatia faced many difficulties on its road to EU. It had to solve its border issues with Slovenia. The cooperation with the Hague tribunal for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia was also very painful for the Croats. The country officially entered the Union in 2013 but that happened in a moment when Europe was in a deep economic crisis and it had no chance to gain seezable economic benefits from its membership. So, the Euroscepticism became quite popular among Croats soon after their country became part of the huge European community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ankara Review of European Studies (ARES) / Ankara Avrupa Çalışmaları Dergisi (AAÇD) is the property of Ankara University European Union Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medunarodni Problemi is the property of Institute of International Politics & Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The research orientation in this paper focuses on the analysis of changes in the competitiveness of the Western Balkan countries' textile industry in the European Union market. The export orientation of these countries' manufacturing industries and their long-term linkage to the production and trade flows of European integration processes are part of a broader effort to establish sustainable growth models for these transition economies. For the purpose of complex analysis and measurement of the export competitiveness of one industry of these national economies, methodology based on data on international trade -the Trade Performance Index (TPI) as well as the Revealed Comparative Advantage index (RCA) indicators, using the formula Balas, was used. The results of measuring the export competitiveness of textiles and clothing from the Western Balkan countries to the EU-28 market indicate the continued growth of the market share and the existence of its identified comparative advantages. This leads to the conclusion that there are positive dynamics of change and growing competitiveness of this industry. However, the relatively high level of specialisation of the region for the export of these products and its dominant share in the total exports of individual countries indicates the absence or slowness of structural changes necessary for faster economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Defense & Strategy / Obrana a strategie is the property of Institute for Strategic Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper investigates tobacco smuggling in the Western Balkans, a region notorious as the main smuggling route for Western European countries. Data from a large-scale nationally representative survey from seven Western Balkan countries are used to explore smoking habits, attitudes about the illicit market, and characteristics of smokers associated with illicit market demand. Our results show that, while there are substantial differences between countries in the prevalence of illicit market purchases, the attitudes of people across countries are not dissimilar. The logit model is estimated to analyse the characteristics of illicit market buyers. The results show that purchasing on the illicit market can best be predicted by variables approximating people's social status. People with lower income and higher levels of addiction are more likely to buy illegal tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ankara Review of European Studies (ARES) / Ankara Avrupa Çalışmaları Dergisi (AAÇD) is the property of Ankara University European Union Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since the 1990s many formats and initiatives for stability and security of the Western Balkan states have emerged, which include a broad array of support instruments. One of the formats of cooperation involves the Berlin Process, which increasingly affects the Balkan reality. A number of political factors determined Poland's joining in the mechanism. The aim of the paper is to identify and systemize them as well as analyse the importance of this initiative from the perspective of Polish foreign policy. It has been assumed that after 1989 due to the focusing of Polish diplomacy on the pursuit of strategic interests, the area of Southeast Europe, the discussed Western Balkan states included, was located at the margin of Polish foreign policy. The temporary increase in the activity of Polish diplomacy towards the region did not mean its appreciation from the perspective of Polish foreign policy but resulted only from a search for ways to boost the efficiency of implementation of its guidelines. What is more, modification of emphasis in the foreign policy after Poland's accession to the European Union did not result in a modification of the Western Balkans' position from the perspective of Polish interests. Taking the above into account a question arises about factors that determined the enhancement of Polish activity towards and for the region, an example of which includes joining in the mechanism of the Berlin Process. At the same time one needs to examine the forms and character of Polish involvement, and primarily to establish what resources and what instruments were supposed to support political declarations about the need to intensify Poland's activity towards the Western Balkans region. The paper's main hypothesis boils down to an observation that Poland, searching for ways to ground its position as a country involved in the development of the situation in the Western Balkans, joined in the initiative of the Berlin Process motivated, on the one hand, by the pursuit of Poland's own interests resulting from the desire to boost its impact on the course of political processes in an international dimension, while on the other, its activity was dictated by the endeavour to intensify the region's interrelations with the European Union. The detailed hypothesis, corresponding to the adopted research assumption, boils down to a statement that Poland has not become a key country in the context of the region's integration with the structures of EU cooperation. Therefore, postulating the EU "open door" policy for years, regardless of its resources and capabilities, Poland became involved in various mechanisms supporting the expansion process. The main research methods used in the text include an institutional and legal analysis, a critical analysis of documents and the literature of the subject, and the comparative method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]