While the renewed EU interest in the Western Balkans is without doubt positive, it rests on several myths and misconceptions. This is the general stance of the authors of the new Policy Brief “The Balkans as a Geopolitical Chessboard?” Myths, Realities and Policy Options of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group Florian Bieber, Professor of Southeast European History and Politics and Director of the Centre for the Southeast European Studies of the University of Graz and Nikolaos Tzifakis, Associate Professor of International Relations and Chairman of the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the University of Peloponnese, members of BiEPAG.