The EU and the Balkans show their unity to revive their relations

European Council President Charles Michel speaks alongside Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a press conference at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, Albania, on 6 December 2022. REUTERS - FLORION GOGA

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The leaders of the countries of the European Union and the Western Balkans showed on Tuesday 6 December in Tirana, Albania, their desire to give new impetus to their relations, through concrete cooperation, even if enlargement is still a distant prospect. .

The President of the European Council Charles Michel considered this EU-Balkans summit "historic", the first of its type to take place in the region.

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With the invasion of Ukraine, the pressures from Moscow, but also the influence from Beijing, take on another dimension in the Balkans.

The rapprochement is more urgent than ever, believes the President of the European Council Charles Michel: 

I am absolutely convinced that the future of Europe, the future of our children will be more secure, more prosperous when the Western Balkans will be part of the European Union.

We are progressing, we are getting closer.

Reforms are needed... 

Reforms to guarantee the rule of law, the elimination of corruption, but not all countries are going at the same pace, notes the EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell:  

We also expect the region to show its willingness to embrace the European spirit.

this is the case for many countries, but we also see hesitations.

Serbia does not support sanctions against Russia, and President Vucic almost did not attend the summit.

Kosovo announces that it will submit its application for EU membership before the end of the year, even if tensions are still high with Belgrade.  

The EU-27 have however made concrete economic commitments for the region, including: an agreement was signed between telecom operators to reduce roaming charges with the EU in October 2023, with a view to gradually eliminating them by 2027;

and the EU has confirmed a €1 billion package of grants, half of which is intended to help the most vulnerable households and businesses and the other half for investments to boost energy independence.

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• European Union

• Balkans

• Joseph Borrell

• Serbia

• Albania