Thewesternbalkans
According to different information agencies, the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen started her annual tour to the Western Balkans on Sunday (12 October). This was an occasion to reiterate the EU’s support for the region’s EU accession path and gradual access to the Single Market, and to discuss the EU’s €6 billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans for 2024-2027.
On Monday morning (13 October), President von der Leyen met the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, as well as Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of the country, in Tirana. On Monday afternoon, she delivered a speech of the Regional Investment Conference for the Western Balkans, before travelling to Tivat, Montenegro.
Speaking in a press conference with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama earlier on 13 th of October, von der Leyen remarked that the country’s goal is to close all chapters by 2027.
“This is ambitious, but we like ambitions”, she said.
“My first message is very clear: Albania is on the right track towards the European Union. You’ve come a long way. There is a stunning and outstanding record speed acceleration in the last three to four years. Five of six negotiating clusters are already open. We plan to open the last one this autumn”, von der Leyen said at the press conference.
She added that the geopolitical momentum is now.
“Every nation must choose its place, and Albania has made its choice very clearly”, von der Leyen said.
She announced the upcoming disbursement of EUR 100 million to Albania from the European Union Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the abolishing of all roaming charges between Albania and the European Union.
In Tivat, President von der Leyen held meetings with the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, and with the Prime Minister Spajić. On 14th of October, still in Tivat, she delivered the opening speech at the Montenegro Investment conference, before heading to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, von der Leyen will visit the Srebrenica memorial and participate in Sarajevo in a meeting with the members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Trio Presidency. She will then meet with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto.
On Wednesday morning (15 October), President von der Leyen will be in Serbia. She will have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Serbia Đuro Macut, then with President Aleksandar Vučić.
On Wednesday afternoon, President von der Leyen will travel to Pristina, where she will meet with the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, and later with the caretaking Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.
Still on Wednesday afternoon, the President will travel to Skopje. She will hold a series of bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, with the President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, and with the Speaker of Parliament, Afrim Gashi, concluding her trip to the region.
Comments: This year’s visit by President von der Leyen to the Western Balkans follows those of 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021. She repeated the importance of the region for the European Union on multiple occasions over the past year.
The schedule of the visit to the region by von der Leyen is particularly indicative. The top performers, Albania and Montenegro, are first. Then come Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Finally, Kosovo and North Macedonia are last. The messages from the President of the European Commission are completely clear and fully expected at the moment. In fact, the most interesting will be the visit to Belgrade and somewhat to Skopje.
