Thewesternbalkans
On 18 December 2024 EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels. The summit is part of the implementation of the European Council’s 2024-2029 strategic agenda.
According to the main documents of the summit, the meeting served as an opportunity to pursue the new momentum for the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Western Balkans, including a reflection on how to deepen that partnership and move forward together towards a joint future in the European Union.
The main topics of discussion were: enhancing the EU-Western Balkans integration through the growth plan; deepening EU’s political and policy engagement with the Western Balkans in multiple areas, including foreign and security policy; building an economic foundation for the future and mitigating the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; cooperation in migration management and the fight against corruption and organised crime.
Over dinner, leaders also discussed the geopolitical context and challenges affecting both regions.
The summit was chaired by President António Costa, for the first time in his new capacity as the President of the European Council.
The main message from the President Costa was that “EU and Western Balkan countries belong to the same European family, share the same continent, and the most importantly, they share common values and a common history.”
At the end of the summit, the Brussels declaration was issued.
“The future of the Western Balkans is in our Union. We once again reconfirm our full and unequivocal commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans. Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity, as stated in the Granada Declaration. There is a new dynamism in the enlargement process and notable progress since our last Summit. The acceleration of the accession process, based on credible reforms by partners, fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits, is in our mutual interest.” The Declaration said.
The EU is committed to bringing the Western Balkans partners closer to the EU already during the enlargement process.
The leaders concluded that the gradual integration has already started in different policy areas, preparing the ground for accession and bringing concrete benefits to citizens, in a reversible and merit-based manner.
Launched in 2023, the growth plan aims to further integrate the Western Balkans partners into the EU single market through the advancement of regional economic cooperation, as well as to incentivise the necessary EU-related reforms.
The growth plan has the potential to double economic growth in the region over the next decade and to accelerate socioeconomic convergence between the Western Balkans and the EU, provided that the partners implement the EU-related reforms which they have set out in their respective reform agendas.
EU leaders also congratulated the Western Balkans partners who have already joined the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which will lower the costs of transactions for people.
The EU counts on the Western Balkans partners to advance regional economic integration through the Common Regional Market, which is a stepping stone and a precondition for closer integration with the EU single market.
The EU aims to further deepen its political and policy engagement with the Western Balkans partners in areas such as: foreign and security policy; security and defence; cooperation and resilience to hybrid and cyber threats to counter foreign interference and disinformation; people-to-people contacts, and measures for young people through research, innovation, education and social policy.
In the Brussels declaration, EU leaders welcomed that Security and Defence Partnerships were agreed with the first partners this year, and that the European Peace Facility support is reinforcing security and resilience in the region.
“More integration builds real strategic partnership. A strategic partnership that sees the Western Balkans aligned with the European Union in condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression, and support for Ukraine, including military support. And a strategic partnership in which we reinforce security and resilience in the Western Balkans, through the European Peace Facility” the Declaration said.
The leaders also emphasised the importance of reconciliation, good neighbourly relations, and overcoming disputes and issues rooted in the legacy of the past for regional stability. Implementing international agrements in good faith and with tangible results, including the Prespa Agreementwith Greece and the Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria, is therefore essential.
“The absence of a normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade is holding back both partners. The Agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue must be implemented, in particular the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Annex. The EU recalls that a precondition for the support under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans is for the parties to engage constructively with measurable progress and tangible results in the normalisation of their relations,” the Declaration said.
The EU remains the region’s closest partner, its main investor and trading partner and its main donor.
The EU will continue to support its Western Balkan partners in helping to mitigate the impact that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is having on their economies, societies and security. The EU will continue its engagement with Western Balkan partners through: the instrument for pre-accession assistance; the economic and investment plan; the energy support package.
The EU and the Western Balkans have a shared responsibility for addressing common challenges. They should strengthen their cooperation in a number of key areas: migration management; visa policy; counterterrorism and violent extremism; combating organised crime and corruption; justice and rule of law;
In the Brussels declaration, the EU also welcomed the fact that people from the entire Western Balkans region are now able to travel visa free to the Schengen area, as well as the progress made towards the swift alignment with EU visa policy by several Western Balkans partners.
The EU leaders welcome their Western Balkans partners’ alignment with this Declaration and its Annex on deliverables and priorities.
Comments: Several conclusions emerge from the “summit” meeting held and from the adopted documents.
The EU fully imposes its agenda on its expansion to the Western Balkans and its point of view.
The leaders of the countries of the Western Balkans have joined the Declaration.
The main thing in the Declaration is the understanding that the countries of the Western Balkans are part of the European space and the EU is committed to continue the enlargement process according to the merits of each country.
The Declaration lists the main instruments for ensuring the process of integration of the countries of the Western Balkans already during the negotiation process.
In general, the texts of the Declaration are inclusive, but also decisive enough in commenting on the weaknesses in the integration process and the non-fulfillment of the commitments made by the countries of the Western Balkans.
