The Summit between the European Union and the six Western Balkans nations (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) was held in Brussels on 13 December 2023, attended by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. This assembly got here because the European Union strengthened its motion within the area.
The Summit, between European Union and Western Balkans leaders, adopted on from the Tirana Summit in December 2022, which was the primary to be held within the area.
Important topics have been mentioned on the assembly:
- The European Union’s deepened dedication to the Western Balkans and advancing gradual integration between the European Union and nations within the area throughout their accession course of;
- Assist for socio-economic convergence between the Western Balkans and the EU, because of the Progress Plan for the Western Balkans offered by the European Fee in early November;
- Strengthening the area’s safety and resilience, together with within the cyber discipline.
The summit reaffirmed the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
Full reunification of the European continent by way of the enlargement course of is a geostrategic funding in peace, safety and prosperity.
The European Union is the main companion, investor and donor within the Western Balkans. It makes important investments within the area, together with by way of the Financial and Funding Plan, which helps funding tasks within the fields of transport, vitality, the digital and ecological transitions, the personal sector and social growth, together with for younger folks, totalling €30 billion (in loans and grants).
Within the face of the vitality disaster, the European Union has supported the area by way of the 2022 Vitality Assist Bundle which totalled €1 billion. Cooperation between the European Union and its Western Balkans companions has already given rise, for instance, to a discount in roaming fees.
France helps the EU accession perspective of the Western Balkans, which is a strategic necessity, notably within the context of Russia’s struggle of aggression towards Ukraine. The gradual integration of our Western Balkans companions is crucial and requires these nations to proceed implementing elementary reforms, notably within the discipline of the rule of legislation and the functioning of democratic establishments.
By way of its interministerial technique, France continues its re-engagement within the area, as demonstrated by the latest appointment by the Minister for Europe and International Affairs of a Particular Envoy for the Western Balkans. It’s politically energetic to help the area’s stability, notably with regard to the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD, French Improvement Company) has devoted greater than €1.1 billion to the Western Balkans since 2019 to help the ecological and vitality transitions.
In partnership with Slovenia and Montenegro, France established the Western Balkans Cyber Capability Centre (WB3C) in Podgorica.
