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Robert Cooper (c) at EU-brokered Kosovo-Serbia talks in 2011 (Photo: consilium.europa.eu)

Interview

EU enlargement is 'only real solution to Balkan conflicts'

Taking in the Western Balkans and tackling climate change, thereby depriving Russia of oil and gas revenues, were the most powerful steps the EU could take to keep order in Europe, Robert Cooper, a retired British diplomat has said.

But the West also needed to tackle its own demons, such as nationalist-populism in Hungary and Poland, to have a geopolitical impact, he added.

"The most important strategic act the EU did was the grand enlargement of 2004. The most important thing i...

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Author Bio

Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's foreign editor, writing about foreign and security issues since 2005. He is Polish, but grew up in the UK, and lives in Brussels. He has also written for The Guardian, The Times of London, and Intelligence Online.

Robert Cooper (c) at EU-brokered Kosovo-Serbia talks in 2011 (Photo: consilium.europa.eu)

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Author Bio

Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's foreign editor, writing about foreign and security issues since 2005. He is Polish, but grew up in the UK, and lives in Brussels. He has also written for The Guardian, The Times of London, and Intelligence Online.

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