The München daily Süddeutsche Zeitung writes the Balkans are disappointed with the European Union failure to set a date for the opening of the accession negotiations with Skopje and Tirana and warns that the return of bloody past in the region is possible in the absence of hope to join the bloc.

 Under the headline “Disappointed”, Süddeutsche Zeitung explored a broader picture of the Balkans nations’ possible reaction to the blow,.

 “The concrete result of such disappointment could be seen in Moscow on Friday, where Serbia will sign a free trade agreement with Euro-Asian Economic Union (EAEU) led by Russia,” Deutsche Welle in Serbian carried the München daily story.

The daily added that “the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced the deal recently during a day visit to Belgrade, adding the choice between the West and the East should not be “imposed” on the regional countries. In other words, he offers close relations with Russia as an alternative to the European Union.Besides, both Turkey and China are fighting for the influence in the region with billions in investments.”

“If a hope to join the EU disappears in the Balkans, the region faces the return to nationalism and, in the worst case scenario, the burst of old conflicts. In the end, for both Serbia and Kosovo, the European perspective is a huge motivation for reaching an agreement,” the daily wrote.

It added that “without a hope in the EU future, the plans for the  Greater Albania will get the wing in the back. That would not only embrace Albania and Kosovo but North Macedonia as well, with its large Albanian minority. In Bosnia, the centrifugal forces between the Serbs, Croats and Muslim Bosniaks could strengthen.”