Thewesternbalkans
The European External Action Press Team announced that “High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell hosted an informal meeting with Western Balkans leaders on Wednesday in New York, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.
“Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Montenegro Filip Ivanović participated in the meeting.
The annual gathering reflects the European Union’s commitment to the partnership with the Western Balkans – future Member States of the EU.
“This meeting serves as an occasion for exchange of views on issues of common interest, beyond enlargement, on issues of global security and stability” – the press Team sad.
The discussion was centred on the pressing geopolitical challenges, particularly the damaging impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and China’s efforts to expand its economic influence. High Representative Borrell and the Western Balkans leaders discussed the importance of strengthening resilience, emphasising the need for strategic alignment with the European Union to safeguard regional stability.
The main messages of the High Representative Borrell were as follow:
- The Western Balkans is an integral part of Europe’s future. He emphasised the importance and strength of EU-Western Balkans ties, and reiterated that EU membership is within reach, provided that the key reforms are pursued with renewed focus.
- Recall the need to resolve existing bilateral disputes. High Representative Borrell underlined the importance of good neighbourly relations achieved through dialogue and compromise as essential steps toward the EU integration. The leaders must take bold, strategic decisions to advance their European aspirations.
- reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting the Western Balkans on their European path, highlighting that enlargement remains a top priority for the EU.
Comments: A farewell meeting!
After five years of not being able to solve any of the major problems of the Western Balkans, Josep Borel has held a working lunch with the leaders of the six countries of the Western Balkans to confirm the already known positions of the EU, and above all to satisfy his own ego. It is a little strange that all the leaders of the countries of the Western Balkans have accepted such a working lunch, because Borel is the foreign minister of the EU and the level is foreign ministers. On the other hand, however, the Balkan leaders have demonstrated their magnanimity and broad modesty.
In fact, the interesting is yet to come. After Charles Michel rather cleverly justified the meeting with Mickoski and reiterated that the decisions of the European Council are to be implemented, we have yet to see what will happen in October and whether Albania will appear alone at the ongoing intergovernmental conference. It also remains to be seen what Viktor Orbán will do in Skopje, because the presidency of the EU Council is an honor but also a duty.
