EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, writing in his blog on Friday, commented on the Western Balkans and said that the European Union should deliver tangible steps forward for the region, MIA’s Brussels correspondent reports.
The EU foreign policy chief warned that nationalistic rhetoric has been proliferating in the Western Balkan region, and that frustration is seen due to lack of progress in European integration.
Borrell writes about the informal dinner that was held this week with leaders of the Six Western Balkan countries, together with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, reiterating that since 2018, until May 2021, the Western Balkans hasn’t been included on the agenda of EU foreign ministers.
“I wanted to exchange with the Western Balkans leaders openly and informally about their concerns and proposals for the region and its European future, as well as a more strategic approach to the European foreign policy,” Borrell says, adding that the Western Balkans are once again at a crossroads in terms of European integration.
He points out that history shows why the region remains fragile, and adds that EU foreign ministers have expressed their concerns about “losing the Western Balkans, given the slow process and the negative consequences of the pandemic.
In this context, Borrell reminds the European public that North Macedonia and Albania are expecting the first intergovernmental conferences on EU accession in June, whereas Kosovo’s visa liberalization is long overdue, on which the country has met all related criteria. He adds that he will also facilitate another high level Belgrade Pristina dialogue meeting in June.
