The EU Member States participating in the Berlin Process, the United Kingdom and the six Western Balkans countries met for a summit on Monday 16 October. At this meeting, held in Tirana as part of the Berlin Process, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented the growth plan drawn up by the EU, which should enable the region’s six States to be better integrated into the European single market.
“This growth plan is a powerful incentive. It encourages the opening of economic doors, but also calls for the opening of borders between the countries of the Western Balkans and for the necessary reforms to be undertaken. This is the price that will be paid to finance investment”, commented Ms von der Leyen at the end of the discussions.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, had already announced on 6 October, at a meeting with the foreign ministers of the countries participating in the Berlin Process, that the Commission would be presenting a new growth plan for the countries of the Western Balkans “in the coming weeks” (see EUROPE 13266/12).
The plan presented by Ms von der Leyen is based on four pillars: - increasing regional integration in the European economy; - bringing the countries of the Western Balkans closer to the EU’s single market; - the acceleration of “fundamental” reforms with a view to EU membership; - an increase in pre-accession funds.
However, the President of the Commission also pointed out that simply “opening doors” in areas such as the free movement of goods and services, road transport, energy, electricity and the EU’s digital single market will not be enough unless the Balkan States also carry out the necessary reforms.
“To move forward, we need reforms, far-reaching reforms, also to improve the business climate, to make the environment more attractive. These reforms will be accompanied by investment funding from the European Union, if they take place”, insisted Ms von der Leyen.
“The countries of the Western Balkans must also complete their regional common market. This means that the countries of the Western Balkans must also give their neighbours access to their markets. In other words, if I turn the question around, if there are blockages, the only person you can block is yourself. The others will move on”, she added.
Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo were also raised. Asked about potential sanctions against Belgrade following the murder of a Kosovar policeman by Serbian gunmen on 24 September (see EUROPE 13264/7), the Commission President said that the conclusions of the investigation were awaited. “We will then decide on the next steps with the Member States”, she added. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)