Austrian Defense Minister Hans-Peter Doskosil in an interview with German Die Welt said that the EU is losing the Balkans to the Turks and the Russians.

Back in 2003, the EU promised the Balkan states a worthy place in the European Union, however, the delay in the process of accession talks of many disappointed. As a result, the population of this region places the main hopes on Moscow and Ankara, emphasizes Doskosil. He recalled the deliveries by Moscow of Serbia of six MiG-29 fighters, the "buying up" of the coast of Montenegro by "Russian money-bags" and the sale by Bosnian Serbs of their refineries to Russian enterprises.

Turkey also does not slumber, using (according to the minister) its membership in NATO for approval in the region and building up its presence there - in particular, restoring mosques and investing in impoverished areas of Bosnia and Serbia "in order to locate their population". As a result, the Balkans gradually but surely Islamize.

Recalling that for many decades the Balkans are the traditional sphere of influence of the European Union, the Minister stated: at present the EU loses control over the region. "Therefore, Germany and other European states should not reduce the number of their troops in the Balkans in order to maintain a multi-year balance of power and stabilize democracy in the region," he stressed..

Will Europeans "stabilize democracy" - a controversial issue. At one time they have already invested heavily in the region, and now they have good chances to balance the influence of the two above-mentioned players, Russian experts believe. But Moscow and Ankara, judging by everything, do not intend to yield.

Both the Russia and Turkey are interested in the Balkans, says Artyom Ulunyan, head of the Center for Studies in the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia of the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences: "This is their traditional sphere of not even interests, but the application of efforts, since it is through this peninsula that all ties with Europe ". Moreover, the question of the Mediterranean is of fundamental importance for both countries, the political scientist "Utru".

At the same time, according to him, speech does not go about purely confessional penetration - both Turkey and Russia actively use economic levers to influence the situation. In particular, Turkey has long stated that it has traditional relations with the Balkans, back in the early 90s. Considered this region as part of its allied space, actively participates in the economy of Serbia and Bosnia. But since Erdogan is in power, there are certain confessional aspects. In addition, given that previously these territories were part of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish leadership is trying to use the historical factor, recreating the people's "good memory".

Russia, for its part, has traditionally operated through Serbia (which at the moment is not a member of NATO, but is surrounded by member countries of the alliance) and sees in it a certain positive factor for itself, developing both military and technical cooperation with that country.

In other words, while both the Russian Federation and Turkey are using their methods to penetrate the Balkans, Europe - after the situation in Bosnia and Kosovo has settled - has practically lost interest in them. And this had a serious impact on the situation, the interlocutor of Utra said: if the Europeans were more active in the Balkans, the layout would be different, but they preferred more pressing problems for themselves - Brexit, the preservation of the European Union, the refugee problem and so on. "The Balkans somehow got out of control, and the statement of the Austrian minister reflects the concern that has long existed in Europe among small states, in particular Austria, to some extent Belgium and Holland, which is, it would seem, very far away From the Balkans, but, nevertheless, the Balkan echo is audible there, "- noted Artem Ulunyan.

Thus, on the one hand, the small countries of Europe - in particular Austria - are beginning to fear that the previously existing threats in the Balkans can manifest themselves even now, under the present conditions, with completely new players in the person of the Russian Federation and Turkey on the other, clearly Not ready to invest in the region to the same extent as competitors. However, according to the analyst, to say that Europe does nothing, it would be wrong.

"In its time, Europe was very much invested in the settlement of the Yugoslav, Kosovo and Macedonian crises. Thanks to Europe, Macedonia has maintained its statehood. The current situation is a consequence of the fact that too many problems have accumulated in Europe itself, and the Balkans have simply come to the fore. The first was Europe itself, relations with Russia and the United States, as well as the situation in the Arab countries after the so-called "Arab Spring", "said A. Ulunyan.

Should we expect the activation of Europeans in the Balkans, given their concerns about the state of the democracy there, an open question. "Experience has shown that Europe never actively intervenes, rather, it is preparing for this participation for a long time. The principle of the Europeans is not to impose their order somewhere - especially since everyone understood perfectly well, even with the admission of these countries to the EU, that they very seriously differ from the main part of European states. Everyone also understands that it is impossible to impose any European principles there.

But there are certain principles of European coexistence - tolerance, respect for national minorities, inviolability of borders, democratic development. This is exactly what they are trying to achieve, and they have certain opportunities to influence the situation. Europeans begin to understand: Europe is not separated from the Balkans, the Balkans are part of Europe. And now the Europeans have quite good reasons to believe that they have the right to participate in the political life of this space and demand from it the fulfillment of European norms, "the analyst concluded..