Europe in the face of the nationalist challenge in the Balkans.

The article describes how Europeans endeavored and still endeavor, to meet the challenge of nationalism in the Balkans which reappeared with the break-up of former Yugoslavia. The lateness of the diagnosis in view of the encountered phenomenon is put forward as the primary reason for the initial setbacks they suffered, a lateness to be ascribed to the lack of knowledge of the region as well as to the belated effect of titist propaganda on Westerners. The turning point reached the first EU/Westem Balkans Summit of Zagreb in 2000 is recalled; the European successes are underscored along with those of European foreign and defence policies, actually built up in the Balkans. The article emphasizes the crucial character of the next three years punctuated by decisive landmarks for Kosovo, Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYROM before the adhesion of Romania and Bulgaria.