Thewesternbalkans.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, will head to the Western Balkans throughout this week (12-16 May 2025) to meet with the political leadership of the Western Balkan partners and co-host the sixth European Political Community summit in Tirana (16 May 2025). President Costa will be stressing the importance of building further on the renewed momentum in the enlargement process and the EU- Western Balkans relations.
“Enhancing cooperation with the Western Balkans is a top political priority for the EU and for me personally. I am visiting the region to discuss with leaders persisting challenges and showcase that the EU stands ready to help. There is a clear enlargement momentum; but momentum needs commitment and follow through”, said Costa.
President Costa officially started his visit in Belgrade on Tuesday 13 May. He met President Vučić, Prime Minister Macut, and Members of the Parliament.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić claimed his country was committed to becoming an EU member.
“The political will of Serbia is unequivocal for Serbia to be on the European path, to speed up its integration and to do its job,” Vučić said.
Costa said that Vučić had assured him “EU integration remains a top priority” for both him and the country’s new government.
Condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “key element” of Europe’s common foreign policy, Costa said.
Vučić insisted on Tuesday that Serbia “supports the territorial integrity of all countries in the world, including Ukraine.”
The European Council President António Costa will continue the WB visit in Sarajevo where he will be addressing the troops of EUFOR Althea and meeting with Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On Wednesday 14 May, President Costa will arrive in Podgorica where he will meet with President Milatović, Prime Minister Spajić and other members of the government. He will then visit Pristina to meet President Osmani-Sadriu. The next day, 15 May, President Costa will head to Skopje to meet with Prime Minister Mickoski and President Siljanovska-Davkova. His final stop in the Western Balkans will be in Tirana where on 15 May he will meet with Prime Minister Rama and President Begaj and participate in a meeting with students of the College of Europe.
On Friday 16 May, President Costa will co-host the sixth European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana. The EPC meetings bring together countries on the European continent and provide a platform for deeper political coordination. This summit’s theme is “New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action”. The meeting will focus on security and leaders will share their vision for the future of Europe, followed by three thematic roundtables.
Comment: In an interview with Euronews ahead of his visit to the Western Balkans, European Council President Antonio Costa said that Albania and Montenegro could become EU members before the others. He confirmed that the EU accession process is based on its own merits and that countries that implement the necessary reforms could join before 2030. Costa highlighted Russia’s war in Ukraine and renewed tensions in the Western Balkans, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina and between Serbia and Kosovo, as key reasons why EU membership could serve as a powerful stimulus for peace and stability in the region.
However, the Western Balkan countries lost valuable time at the beginning of the year due to political instability. Brussels will now work to correct this. European Parliament President Roberta Mezzola is expected to visit Belgrade shortly after Costa’s visit. Senior EU officials need to confirm that the door to the Union remains open to countries in the region. The possibility is real, but not guaranteed. Montenegro and Albania in particular need to regain the momentum that once brought them recognition across Europe.
