This brief argues that the Western Balkans is once again becoming a geopolitical hotspot. Indeed, if you mix growing Russian and Turkish encroachment in the region, Moscow's relentless anti-EU propaganda, and the current migration crisis all together, you get what appears to be a waning regional commitment to democratic reforms and new doubts about the virtues of EU membership. To reverse these trends, the text's authors conclude by outlining a set of recommendations the EU could follow.