The leaders of the EU and Western Balkan countries underlined, on Tuesday 6 December in Tirana, their willingness to move closer together, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.
The host of the day, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, said that holding a summit in one of the Balkan countries was an “incredible sign of recognition that nowadays the EU needs the Balkans as much as the Balkans need the EU”.
In the Tirana declaration, the leaders underline the importance of the partnership between the EU and the region and reaffirm the EU’s “full and unequivocal” commitment to the Western Balkans’ EU membership perspective, calling for the acceleration of the accession process on the basis of credible reforms by the Partners, including in terms of the Rule of law. Speaking to the press, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, acknowledged that Russia’s war in Ukraine had reinforced the feeling that this process needed to be accelerated.
Mr Rama stressed the gradual integration of the Balkan countries into the EU throughout their accession process. “There is now this mutual understanding that, while we do our homework, we need to be supported and come closer to the EU to bring Europe together”, he stressed.
Although he is often criticised for his country’s non-alignment with EU foreign policy and at one point wanted to boycott the summit, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, on his arrival at the summit, reiterated his country’s commitment to the EU. “We remain committed to the negotiation process with the EU and remain very firm on the EU path, but at the same time we have to protect our state and national interests in accordance with the Constitution”, he explained.
Cooperation on migration
With EU migrant arrivals via the Balkan route having soared since the beginning of the year, the presidents of the European Council and the Commission stressed the importance of cooperation in this area. “Migration is always a sensitive issue”, said Mr Michel, recalling that concrete cooperation was “fundamental”. While welcoming the progress on aligning the visa policies of the Balkan countries with those of the EU, the President of the European Council said that additional measures would be needed in the coming weeks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was more forceful, saying that the alignment of visa policies was crucial to maintaining the visa-free regime enjoyed by five of the six Western Balkan countries.
On Twitter, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo explained that his message at the summit and in his meeting with the Serbian president had been to “strengthen the EU’s external borders and prevent illegal immigration into Europe with the help of the Balkans”. “The best thing is to intervene early in the migration chain”, he explained.
Words and deeds
Beyond the good words, the presidents of the European Council and the Commission recalled the EU’s efforts to help the region, particularly in the face of the consequences of the war in Ukraine. In addition to the EU’s economic and investment plan for the region, Ms von der Leyen recalled the €1 billion package to help the countries with energy. “It is important to work together to ensure that what is done in the EU is also done in the Western Balkans”, she said. In particular, the countries of the region were invited to participate in joint procurement of gas, LNG and hydrogen.
Edi Rama emphasised the importance of youth, welcoming the future integration of Western Balkan universities into the European university network. He also called for the establishment of a Bruges College campus in Tirana, similar to the one in Natolin, which was set up in 1992, in order to open up to the countries of Eastern and Central Europe before their accession to the EU. A supporter of the idea, Ms von der Leyen hoped that it would be agreed at a forthcoming EU/Western Balkans summit.
The leaders also welcomed the signing of an agreement in the margins of the summit to reduce roaming charges between the EU and the Balkan countries. “It is good for trade and tourism. It is also a good way to bring people together”, according to Ms von der Leyen. This will be done on a voluntary basis. Only three European operators will participate for the time being: the Orange, Deutsche Telekom and Telekom Austria groups. On the Balkan side, those participating are Makedonija Dooel, BH Telecom, Kosovo Telecom, Telekom Srbija and Yetel d.o.o, A1 Srbija and 4iG.
The aim is to announce a price cap for data roaming by May at the latest and implement it by 1 October 2023. While a senior European official had predicted an end to roaming charges by 2027, a source from one of the operators was more cautious, not wishing to announce a date.
The Balkan countries have already benefited from the end of roaming charges between them since July 2021.
See the Tirana Summit Declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/4if
And the one on roaming: https://aeur.eu/f/4ie
Demining
In addition, on his arrival at the summit, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced that the EU would provide €10 million for a “specific demining campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
He also explained that a new version of the Dialogue text had been sent in the last few hours to Serbia and Kosovo. “Now they have to start discussions - serious discussions - because this is a moment of great opportunity”, he warned. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)