EU leaders met in Slovenia to reaffirm their intention to welcome the six Western Balkan countries, but failed to make major political breakthroughs.
The European Union has pledged 9 billion euros for the Western Balkans as part of a new economic and investment plan, but political divisions over membership prospects remain entrenched.
The new commitment comes as European leaders gathered in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, for an EU-Western Balkans summit also attended by the heads of government of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
Currently, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are officially recognized as candidates for EU membership, while Bosnia and Kosovo are considered potential candidates. Albania and North Macedonia are the most advanced of the group, but a dispute between Skopje and the current Bulgarian government has effectively blocked the process. The impasse has highlighted the slow pace of EU membership.
Aware that patience is running out in the Balkans, Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, has called a special summit in Brdo to directly address the issue of enlargement. But not all member states share Slovenia’s appetite to welcome new members to the club of 27.
The final press release of the high-level meeting simply reaffirms the EU’s “unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans” without any specific deadline or time limit, let alone any compromise from Bulgaria to break the deadlock.
“The European Union is not complete without the Western Balkans,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, adding that the “vast majority” of EU countries have expressed support for enlargement , “even the most skeptical”, who she did not name.
The failure to open negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania “endangers our position and influence in the region,” von der Leyen noted.
At his side, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, underlined the strategic importance of the Western Balkans and the clear consensus around the leaders’ table.
Both presidents admitted, however, that “key issues” such as fundamental values, the rule of law, justice, media freedom and the fight against corruption and organized crime remain obstacles to membership. The leaders welcomed the reforms undertaken so far by Balkan countries in this regard, but added that the six nations still had work to do.
“Quite frankly, there is an ongoing discussion between the 27 on our capacity to welcome new member states,” Michel said.
To support reforms, EU leaders agreed to establish a new economic and investment plan for the Western Balkans to help the region improve its competitiveness and accelerate the green and digital transitions – in line to the EU’s own agenda. The bloc has promised 9 billion euros in subsidies, which Brussels said could potentially mobilize up to 20 billion euros in investments.
The communiqué includes other commitments in the areas of climate action, connectivity, transport, market integration, research and innovation, as well as a roadmap to reduce roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans.
The bloc also promises to provide the region with more coronavirus vaccines, although without guaranteeing a specific number.
So far, the EU has provided more than 2.9 million vaccines and €3.3 billion in health and economic support against the pandemic.
Commitments to deepen cooperation are also made in the areas of foreign policy and security, including in the areas of disinformation, hybrid threats, migration, human trafficking, terrorism and radicalization.
EU leaders expect the Western Balkans to “fully align” with their foreign policy positions and “act accordingly”. The bloc is wary of the growing influence of Russia and China in the region, which many fear will grow as prospects for membership dwindle.
“We share the same history, the same interests and values,” von der Leyen said. “I am deeply convinced that we also share the same destiny.”
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, who hosted the summit, called the meeting a “milestone” and compared its importance to that in Thessaloniki in 2003. summit when the EU officially recognized the Western Balkans as potential candidates for EU membership.
The summit was preceded by an informal dinner during which EU leaders had the opportunity to discuss a more important and urgent topic for citizens: the surge in electricity prices.
Countries like France, Italy and Spain are calling for decisive solutions on a European scale, as a common strategic gas reservebut Brussels and the Northern states are calling for caution, preferring temporary and targeted measures at the national level.