@glenkirk,
glenkirk wrote:It's a situation that is particularly tricky in the Balkans, where the nation is facing instability and tough times financially. Without that help from international groups, things could get even more dicey.
Well, Greece and Croatia are EU-countries.
Regarding the Western Balkans, the EU provides assistance through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, the Western Balkans Investment Framework and the European Investment Bank.
While the EU has an important role in the region, Russia and China are major players, too. Russia has been active for decades in the Western Balkans, while China has started engaging more recently.