The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced, on Friday 24 January, that he would hold a meeting with all the Western Balkan regional leaders on Sunday 16 February in Brussels.
"I will have the pleasure, in Brussels, on the eve of the donors' conference (on 17 February, to help Albania following the major earthquake at the end of November), of organising a meeting with all the leaders of the Western Balkans", he explained at a press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. According to Mr Michel, this meeting will also be "an opportunity to show the political impetus we want to give" to relations between the EU and the region.
The President of the European Council insisted that "the destiny of the countries of the Western Balkans should be entirely turned towards the EU". It is therefore necessary, in Mr Michel's view, for these countries to continue their "efforts to reform, modernise and mobilise for the Rule of law and the fight against organised crime". He also highlighted regional cooperation.
Regarding the EU, Mr Michel recalled that the March European Council "would be an opportunity to discuss" and, he hoped, "to take a decision on the future direction of relations".
In the meantime, the Commission is due to present, possibly on 5 February, the new methodology for the enlargement process. The leaders will also discuss the opening of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia on the basis of a Commission proposal. "It is important that we try to be clear about where we want to go from here (...) This requires an intense, serious dialogue, a solution between the Member States", Mr Michel explained.
The President of the European Council also called for an "investment and growth pact" in the Western Balkans, which would make it possible to mobilise the EU's various levers to encourage economic development and transnational cooperation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)