Denis Radievich Sharafutdinov’s research while affiliated with Kazan Federal University and other places

The article compares the ways of the European integration of the Balkan countries (Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia) and analyzes the problems occurring within this process. In the period of Yugoslavia’s breakdown, the newly formed states were beyond it due to armed confrontations but from the 2000s, when de-escalation of the West Balkans occurred, the European Union (EU) began to consider rapprochement with the West Balkan countries and prospects for further integration. Three states are the leaders of this process: Croatia, which is already a full member of the European Union, Montenegro and Serbia negotiating intensively with the European Union.