The Heads of State or Government of the Member States are expected to reaffirm the European Union’s commitment to the enlargement process in the declaration they will adopt at the EU/Western Balkans Summit on Wednesday 6 October.
The two previous declarations, at the 2018 Sofia and 2020 Zagreb summits, do not mention enlargement, but reiterate “unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans”, recalling the 2013 Thessaloniki summit.
The Brdo Declaration, agreed by the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU on Monday 4 October and obtained by EUROPE, also underlines the “unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans”, welcoming the commitment of these countries to this perspective “ which is in our mutual strategic interest and remains our common strategic choice”.
In addition, however, the leaders explain that “the EU reconfirms its commitment to the enlargement process and its decisions taken thereon, based on credible reforms by partners, fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits”. “It is important that the EU can maintain and deepen its own development, ensuring its capacity to integrate new members”, the statement said.
The leaders also pledge to further intensify their joint commitment to advance the political, economic and social transformation of the region, while recognising the progress made by the Western Balkans.
The declaration, which the Western Balkan countries can associate themselves with, recalls that the Western Balkan countries reiterate their commitment to European values and principles and to carrying out the necessary reforms in the interest of their people. Tangible progress in the rule of law and socio-economic reforms, as well as the partners’ adherence to European values, rules and standards, will determine the EU’s support, the statement warns.
The paper also recalls that the EU is “by far” “the region’s closest partner, main investor and principal donor”, adding that the unprecedented scale and range of this support must be fully recognised and conveyed by the partners in their public debate and communication.
Furthermore, in order to further promote their common interests, the leaders express their readiness to reinvigorate and strengthen regular political dialogue with the region, looking forward to the next summit in 2022. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)