Annoyed by each other’s recurring deceits and preoccupied with their respective internal problems, the EU and the Balkans have been drifting apart for years.

Their dishonest and lethargic relationship was effectively put on ice in 2018; the Balkans was increasingly nervous and rowdy, while the EU was playing hard-to-get.

The countries of the Balkans looked elsewhere, dating other, more interested suitors like Russia, Turkey, China and the Gulf states, but while the EU jealously objected it still refused to offer either immediate, concrete benefits or any guarantees for eventual future reengagement.

The ordeal fuelled frustrations and anger on both sides, reaching breaking point in 2019 when French President Emmanuel Macron declared the nuptials officially off until both sides resolved their own internal issues.