The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, called on the EU, on Tuesday 11 October, to give new impetus to the Western Balkans enlargement process “by rewarding progress in compliance with criteria” and “fostering a climate of trust”.
“It is imperative not to lose focus of the Western Balkans, even if the need to support the European aspirations of other countries, such as Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, has emerged in the meantime”, stressed the parliamentarians in a resolution adopted with 134 votes in favour, 3 against and 3 abstentions.
The lack of progress in the accession process since the 2003 Thessaloniki summit “has sapped political momentum and public enthusiasm” and “the European vision has lost its shine”, giving way to “ethno-nationalism”, laments the text, which is based on a report by Greek socialist George Papandreou.
Another concern was the “geo-politicisation of the region” with the influence of Russia, but also of China and Iran, which were mentioned during the debates, during which George Papandreou asked about the new European political community. “Will it replace this membership or will it serve as an accelerator?”.
In its Resolution, the Assembly calls on the countries concerned (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo) to “address with resolve and without delay outstanding challenges”.
It also calls for an intensification of the political dialogue between the EU and the Council of Europe in order to accelerate the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
This could be done “with particular attention to the ownership of reforms and the need to involve civil society”, areas in which the Council of Europe has expertise.
Link to the Resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/3jq (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)