Institutional and political obstacles will complicate the membership bids of Western Balkan states and other EU candidates.

Stratfor Europe Analyst Adriano Bosoni discusses the hurdles Croatia and other Balkan states face in their attempt to join the European Union.

State-run energy giant Gazprom finalized a deal to make Hungary the final transit state for Russian natural gas before arriving at Italian or Austrian natural gas distribution centers.

Stratfor explains how Croatia's fertile terrain, ethnic diversity, lack of clearly defined borders and proximity to regional powers pose a threat to its national sovereignty.