The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Montenegro and Serbia on Tuesday 31 October. On this occasion, she focused on the reforms needed for the two countries to join the EU and - as she had done the day before in Skopje (see EUROPE 13282/2) - on the EU’s future growth plan for the Western Balkan states.
“We need to strengthen the unity and security of our continent, and enlargement is the way to do that. (...) We want you to take the necessary steps to move closer to us, including in foreign policy”, she said of Serbia.
From Belgrade, the President of the Commission discussed the €6 billion growth plan for the Balkans, which should bring the countries of the region closer to the European single market, increase their integration into the European economy and boost pre-accession funds.
However, Ms von der Leyen warned that in order to qualify for part of the envelope, Serbia would have to carry out a number of reforms, notably in terms of the independence of the judiciary, the green transition and training and education.
“If you carry out the reforms, we will come with investments for Serbia. For example, improving the business environment and preparing the energy sector”, she commented.
The President of the European Commission also stressed the importance of normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo. In her view, Serbia must ensure that the perpetrators of the attack on 24 September, in which a Kosovar policeman was killed by a group of Serbian gunmen (see EUROPE 13264/7), are “held accountable and brought to justice”. She also called on Belgrade to approve the status of the association of Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo, and on Pristina to implement this status (see EUROPE 13281/2).
Reforms also expected in Montenegro
Earlier in the day, in Podgorica, the President of the European Commission met the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, and the country’s new Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić.
Milojko Spajić, who was appointed head of a coalition government made up of pro-European, pro-Serbian and Albanian minority parties a few hours before Ursula von der Leyen’s arrival, declared that he intended to “unblock European integration and move forward quickly”, so that his country could become “the next member of the European Union”.
For her part, Ms von der Leyen welcomed the progress made by the country on the road to EU membership, as well as its alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy. As in Belgrade, she emphasised the role that the EU’s growth plan for the Balkans could play. Also as in Belgrade, she reiterated that this growth plan could only be effective if the country continued with its reforms. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)