EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn announced on Wednesday 20 September that the EU is stepping up its support for Western Balkans countries. They did not give any further details.
"We reconfirmed the unequivocal support of the European Union for the enlargement perspective of the Western Balkans (…) In line with this commitment, the European Union is stepping up its support to all partners towards achievable and realistic objectives, so that their progress will be irreversible by the end of our mandate", they explained in a press release published after a working meeting with the leaders of the six countries in question (Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia) on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
A European source told EUROPE that the EU was "looking at tangible means" to support the Balkans countries, as announced at the Trieste summit (see EUROPE 11829) and by President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, in a letter outlining his intentions. In the letter, Juncker highlights the introduction of an accession strategy for Serbia and Montenegro, which are the countries that have made the most progress, particularly in terms of the rule of law, fundamental rights, stability in the region as a whole and tackling corruption, and for which it is hoped that accession can take place in 2025.
After the meeting, Mogherini and Hahn said: "we are pleased that the leaders confirmed their commitment to reinforced reform work, in particular on justice, rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as to regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations to maintain and build on this positive momentum". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)