The Prime Minister, António Costa, on Tuesday emphasized the “great effort” of the countries of the Western Balkans in approaching the European Union (EU), but recalled the “difficult process” of accession, in addition “concrete projects” of partnership.
“This summit has a very important symbolic value, it is the first time that it is taking place in one of the countries of the Western Balkans, and it is a way of recognizing the great effort that has been made, namely Albania, to expand the European perspectives of the Western Balkans”said the head of government.
Speaking to Portuguese journalists on the sidelines of the first EU summit with the Balkan countries, in the Albanian capital Tirana, António Costa pointed out that, under the current circumstances, “and with a radical change in the geopolitical situation in Europe, this strengthening the relationship between the Union Union and the countries of the Western Balkans as a whole is of paramount importance”.
“Obviously, the prospect of enlargement is a difficult process, which also entails major reforms of its institutions and budgetary framework on the part of the European Union, but beyond the question of enlargement there are a series of concrete projects that are immediately in the pipeline. practice can and must be carried out,” the prime minister emphasized.
António Costa listed initiatives such as “a very significant investment plan” of 30 billion euros, the granting of emergency aid of 1 billion euros in view of the energy crisis in the Western Balkans, the involvement of these countries in joint gas purchases and even the development of ” sub-projects” such as the European exchange program Erasmus+ and the existing regime in the EU to avoid extra charges for roaming use, which will come into effect in 2023🇧🇷
“Apart from enlargement, there is a lot that we can do concretely, that we must do, without wasting any more time,” defended António Costa.
In what is the first time a Western Balkan country has hosted this high-level meeting, Heads of Government and State of EU Member States, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia, following the Serbian The president reversed his intention to miss the meeting due to tensions with the Kosovo prime minister.
The EU-Balkans summit, organized to reaffirm the importance of the bloc’s expansion into this region, continued to be dominated by the context of the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, and, in the case of the Russian military invasion, “the joint statement that was approved is very clear on this issue, of absolute condemnation”.
“And most of these countries applied to Russia the same package of sanctions as the European Union,” emphasizes António Costa.
At this summit, EU and Balkan leaders also discussed the action plan presented on Monday by the community’s executive to strengthen cooperation with Western Balkan countries on migration, which identifies 20 operational measures for border management, under increasing pressure.
“It’s a very important issue related to immigration issues to Europe and it should be the Western Balkan route. It’s not something that directly affects us [em Portugal]obviously, for several countries in Central Europe it is a central issue,” said António Costa.
The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries.
In 2013, Croatia became the first country in the Western Balkans to join the EU, with Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania as official candidate countries.
Negotiations and accession procedures have now started with Montenegro and Serbia, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.
Source: DN
