The EU accession process itself helps to lay the foundation necessary for prosperous and peaceful democracies. But I think we are all aware that the credibility and thus the influence of the EU in the regard in the region is right now at a low point. The EU and all 27 member states must work to reestablish and restore that credibility in the Western Balkans.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker said in his address during Friday’s high-level plenary session “Resetting the EU-US Synergy towards the Western Balkans” within Prespa Forum Dialogue conference in Ohrid.
“The decisions of the EU member states to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania over a year ago was uplifting, now we are at the critical junction where the promise may no longer carry the same level of credibility unless real actions follow. We hope that the European Union will hold the first intergovernmental conferences with both countries and this will happen. We heard the commitments of the Slovenian EU presidency. We believe that it is inappropriate and detrimental to the EU’s credibility of our common values to suppress the accession process,” Reeker noted.
Reeker also reminded that EU leaders said that the EU must deliver on its promises, in particular, he said, as noted by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
“For more than two decades the vision and driver of the US-EU collaboration in the Western Balkans has been the Euro-Atlantic and European integration motivating the kinds of reforms that promote and reward the common values and like-minded ideas throughout the transatlantic community. That is why I was inspired by the remarks of President Pahor – the EU and all member states must work to re-establish that credibility in the Western Balkans, and that is the message that US Secretary of State Blinken sent during his meetings in Berlin, Paris and Rome,” Reeker said.
He also reiterated that we need to make clear to leaders and peoples in the region that reform, progress will indeed generate meaningful movement along a clear tangible and credible EU path.
“Indecisiveness and inconsistency on this issue weakens the US-EU collective efforts throughout this region, and gives openings to those who try to drive wedges within among the members of the EU-Atlantic community,” he said.
He added that it is important other EU members states to deliver on their promises and expressed hope to see that in the coming period.
“EU should also show consistency and credibility. It can do so by granting a visa-free regime to Kosovo. Kosovo has met all the preconditions for visa-free travel to the Schengen area. If Kosovo is denied a visa-free regime, and if Kosovo is denied a European perspective, then the motivation to hold Pristina-Belgrade talks will be weakened. And if no agreement is reached between Belgrade and Pristina, then the whole region will not be able to move forward,” Reeker said.
