EU Leaders reconfirmed the EU’s full and unequivocal commitment to the Western Balkans’ future in the Union. They called for the acceleration of the accession process, which is based on democratic values, necessary reforms and alignment to EU policies. The EU launched new initiatives to strengthen security and resilience and invest in education and sustainable growth.

Enlargement: a geo-strategic investment in peace, security, and prosperity

The Summit took place in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. The Brussels Declaration adopted at the Summit underlines the importance of unity of purpose within the European family, which includes the Western Balkans partners. The partnership between the EU and the region is essential for bringing closer ties and deeper cooperation based on shared principles and values.

As the High Representative / Vice-President Borrell said: “The shifting global landscape puts the security and stability of Europe and our neighbourhood at risk. It is our vital interest to work and cooperate as closely as possible with the Western Balkans – our future members. Enlargement is a geo-strategic investment in peace, security, and prosperity”.

The High Representative announced new measures worth almost €2 million to further support Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia to strengthen their resilience, in particular on cybersecurity. These three countries, which fully align with the EU foreign and security policy, will increase their immediate operational capacity to detect, prevent and repel attacks against their digital infrastructures and systems.

Uplifting economies, reducing gaps and protecting democratic values

The Brussels Declaration calls for “the acceleration of the accession process, based upon credible reforms by partners, fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits, which is in our mutual interest.” The pace of integration depends on the partner’s track record in implementing necessary reforms. The EU is supporting the reforms and is investing in the region. To prepare the ground and bring concrete benefits to their citizens already during the enlargement process the EU intends to explore additional measures to advance gradual integration.

The Commission proposed the new EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans to boost socio-economic convergence and bring some benefits of membership during the pre-accession period through gradual integration into the EU Single Market. The Plan will be strictly linked to the partner’s implementation of necessary reforms.

The European Union is the Western Balkans region’s number one and most reliable partner. The EU is making a huge investment in the region, in particular through the €30 billion Economic and Investment Plan (EIP), which supports investment projects in transport, energy, green and digital transition, private sector and social development such as youth empowerment. The Commission announced a new €680 million investment package to support rail transport and renewable energy in the Western Balkans.

Leaders welcomed the opening of the third campus of the College of Europe in Tirana (after Bruges and Natolin) and the launch of the application for the first academic year 2024-2025. As President von der Leyen said: “By now 500 students have already applied to come and study there next year. The European Union will finance 15 scholarships. And today, we had a pledging moment. 21 Member States promised to pledge for scholarships, so this is big and good news for the region. “ 

Aligning to the EU Foreign and Security Policy

The Brussels Declaration stresses that standing together with the EU is a clear sign of the partners' strategic orientation. A common vision of the future involves shared values and mutual responsibilities. Partners who are committed to the EU integration have to make swift and sustained progress towards full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including on EU restrictive measures and to act accordingly.

The EU is enhancing its engagement with the region in addressing hybrid and cyber threats, space and military mobility. The EU supports the Western Balkans in fighting Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), including disinformation as well as other hybrid threats that seek to undermine the region’s stability, democratic processes and its EU perspective.

As the Declaration states: “we will further strengthen our cooperation to build resilience, also by fostering media professionalism and media literacy, and by increasing the impact of strategic communication about EU-Western Balkans relations and the enlargement process in particular. The EU will also intensify its work with partners to counter false Russian narratives and disinformation about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”.

Background

The EU – Western Balkans Summit is the most important political meeting of the year gathering the Leaders of the EU and the region. Its aim is to create ever closer ties between the EU and the Western Balkans, set the strategic orientation and the to-do list for the way forward. The previous EU - Western Balkans Summit took place in Tirana in December 2022.

Links:

• EU-Western Balkans Summit Declaration
• Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel following the EU-Western Balkans Summit
• Remarks by President Charles Michel at the press conference of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels
• Council Main Results page EU-Western Balkans summit, 13 December 2023
• Western Balkans: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit
• Western Balkans: High Representative Borrell announces new support to Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia to counter cybersecurity threats
• European Commission announces additional €680 million investment package for the Western Balkans under the Economic and Investment Plan