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Geographically, the Western Balkans are bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the west, the Aegean Sea to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. To the north the Sava and Danube rivers are used as markers. This region includes Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria.

Culturally, the Balkans have been shaped by the historical legacies of the Slavic, Illyrian, and Hellenic indigenous populations, and the influences of the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian Empires, as well as their Roma and Jewish communities. It’s also a region where religious diversity is part of daily life – in cities like Sarajevo, you can find an Orthodox church, a Catholic church, a mosque, and a synagogue within walking distance of each other. The region traditionally includes the former Yugoslav countries but is often considered to encompass Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, parts of Turkey, Greece, and Hungary as well.

When the European Union refers to the Western Balkans, Slovenia is usually not included. This is because Slovenia is seen as having stronger Central European influences, especially from the Austro- Hungarian Empire, and a weaker connection to the Ottoman legacy. Additionally, Slovenia has been an EU member for twenty years. However, Slovenia still maintains strong cultural, linguistic, and political ties with the broader Balkan region. Croatia and Slovenia are the only Western Balkan countries in the EU. Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are EU candidates.