Sofia, 30 October 2021 (MIA) - Vessela Tcherneva, Deputy Director of the European Council for Foreign Policy (ECFR), told the Bulgarian National Radio on Saturday that Western Balkan countries are drowning in their own issues and expect no help from Brussels, MIA reports from Sofia. According to Tcherneva the EU enlargement of the Western Balkans is not only stuck, but backsliding. European integration, she noted, has stopped being a catalyst for implementation of reforms and stimulating politicians and citizens in the region. Tcherneva took part in the Belgrade Security Forum during which the Bulgarian veto, which prevented North Macedonia and Bulgaria from starting EU accession negotiations, was criticized at every meeting. “Trust is considerably down in all Western Balkan countries. However, relations with EU will change when North Macedonia and Albania start talks,” she underlined. Ahead of the Belgrade Security Forum, Tcherneva led a team of European experts to Pristina, Podgorica and Sarajevo. She noted that accumulation of critical points in the Balkans, especially regarding Serbian communities, can become an issues, noting that growing tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina can culminate in two weeks.