The first session will look into Western and international institutional perspectives on South East Europe. It will consider the policies of neglect versus engagement and what the impact of such choices means for the region. It will test the propositions that the EU appears to be losing focus as a magnet, and that NATO has the appropriate policies in place in the fields of security and stability. Finally, it will look at internal divergences within the EU, NATO and the wider western transatlantic partnership itself and what are the risks for the region’s engagement with the West.