The United States is committed to supporting Western Balkan countries on their path to European integration and membership in key European and Euro-Atlantic institutions. We are working with Western Balkan countries and our European partners to advance reforms in governance, rule of law and anti-corruption – as well as promoting independent media and vibrant civil societies – which will strengthen the European perspective of the region and will advance the long term. -permanent objective of a Europe whole, free and at peace.
We are committed to helping Western Balkan countries deepen their own regional economic partnerships, achieve their climate goals, counter Russia’s energy coercion through diversification and clean energy development, and combat corruption and corruption. organized crime. We also want to help the region grow and prosper while protecting strategic infrastructure and industries from China’s harmful practices.
In addition to our strong economic ties to the region, the United States values our defense and security partnerships, including with our new NATO allies Montenegro and North Macedonia. We intend to further strengthen this cooperation through joint training, exercises, deployments and purchases.
We welcome the progress made by Albania and North Macedonia on key reforms and continue to support the opening of EU accession negotiations with both countries in June.
The United States stands ready to support efforts to achieve a comprehensive and binding normalization agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, centered on mutual recognition, that lays the foundation for lasting cooperation and prosperity. We support the EU-facilitated dialogue and encourage parties to re-engage in this process with a sense of urgency to resolve both technical and political issues. We will work with Serbia and Kosovo to implement their Washington commitments towards the goal of full normalization.
The United States is working with the international community to help Bosnia and Herzegovina pursue reforms that will allow it to prosper and achieve EU candidate status, including electoral reforms. The Office of the High Representative (OHR), established 25 years ago under the Dayton Peace Agreement, has contributed significantly to peace and stability in this country. We continue to support the important role of the OHR in promoting the 5+2 agenda, with a renewed emphasis on the fight against corruption as a key element in strengthening the rule of law.
As we have seen, recent unwarranted speculation about shifting ethnic boundaries in the Balkans risks fostering instability in the region and evoking memories of past tensions. A stable and prosperous future for the Western Balkans must be based on good governance, the rule of law, multi-ethnic democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.