Brussels – The annual meeting between the European Union and Western Balkans leaders marks a fresh start under the new leadership of the EU institutions. Newly appointed President of the European Council António Costa, and re-elected President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen hosted the six Balkan partners’ leaders together with the 27 Head of State and Government in Brussels for the 2024 EU-Western Balkans Summit on 19 December. The key message was clear: “In this term, the commitment remains the same, with two priorities; EU accession and gradual integration in the Single Market,” said President von der Leyen.
At the table of 33 leaders, the main topics of discussion were bilateral disputes, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, and migration, as reflected in the Brussels Declaration adopted during the Summit. “Enlargement is a geopolitical investment, also for the common interest of the 27 Member States,” President Costa emphasized during the press conference at the end of the Summit. Acknowledging the “frustration in the region,” he highlighted a “new momentum” in the process. “We have seen notable engagement and progress from Montenegro and Albania in recent months, and today we noticed a common will to work faster.” This is why President Costa asked to “use this momentum to create the conditions for the EU enlargement.”
First and foremost, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. It has “the potential to double economic growth in the region over the next decade” and to “accelerate socio-economic convergence between the Western Balkans and the EU, provided partners implement the EU-related reforms,” according to the Brussels Declaration. Following the efforts of five partners—Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—in preparing and submitting their respective Reform Agendas, EU leaders have called on them to progress on conditionality specified under the Reform and Growth Facility.” Meanwhile, “one Reform Agenda still missing [Bosnia and Herzegovina’s, ed.] should be submitted to the Commission as soon as possible.”
It is interesting to note that the EU “stands ready to examine further proposals for enhancing the economic integration” of the Western Balkans with the EU “made under the Growth Plan,” subject to the partners’ implementation of their Reform Agendas, alignment with the EU’s single market rules and the opening of their “relevant sectors and areas” to all of their neighbours, “while fully preserving the integrity of the EU single market and a level playing field.”
Following the first high-level meetings in Brussels, the leaders of the EU institutions look forward to the first European Political Community Summit to take place in the Western Balkans region, in Tirana in 2025. “This platform continues to provide an important forum for in-depth exchanges between the leaders on peace, security, stability and economic development for our continent,” states the Brussels Declaration.
The bilateral issues at the EU-Western Balkans Summit
One of the most concerning obstacles to the EU enlargement process is how bilateral issues between States continue to hinder the progress of some candidates. “The process is merit-based, and bilateral issues must be avoided“, President Costa emphasized, underling that “I am personally engaged in solving these problems.” President von der Leyen also stressed that “it is absolutely paramount to address blockages,” because “the European Union is a story of solving problems and finding solutions.”
One example is North Macedonia’s disputes with Greece and Bulgaria, also mentioned in the Brussels Declaration. “Reconciliation, inclusive regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are at the heart of the European Union”, but “decisive further efforts are still required” to implement “definitive, inclusive and binding solutions to partners’ regional and bilateral disputes and issues rooted in the legacy of the past.” Therefore, “implementing international agreements in good faith and with tangible results, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria, is essential.”
However, discussing bilateral disputes immediately brings up the “absence of a normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade,” which is “holding back both partners” from their EU future. Both Kosovo and Serbia are still far from implementing the Agreements reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue, and for this reason “the EU recalls that a precondition for the support under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans is for the parties to engage constructively with measurable progress and tangible results.”
Before the Summit in Brussels, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani strongly criticized the EU institutions: “I must be honest, we are absolutely disappointed with the treatment of Kosovo by some Member States,” both regarding the EU candidacy request and the measures taken in 2023 against Pristina. “These measures are unjust, and there is nothing European or value-based in them, targeting 1.7 million European citizens, the most pro-EU people,” President Osmani stated. During the press conference, President von der Leyen emphasised that “we need a request from the Council to send an opinion on granting Kosovo candidate status,” while “unanimity is needed in the Council to remove the measures.”
The alignment to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum
One final sensitive topic of discussion at the 2024 EU-Western Balkans Summit concerned migration management. The leaders emphasised that “migratory pressure on the Western Balkans route has decreased by 80% in the first ten months of 2024 compared to 2023.” However, “additional efforts are required to further align with the EU acquis and the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.”
This means that, from Brussels, “support is provided to enhance asylum and reception systems, strengthen border protection, fight organised crime groups and other criminal networks,” particularly for those countries working “towards returns from the Western Balkans to the countries of origin.” Returns have become a priority for the European Union in managing migration, alongside the “progress made towards the swift alignment with EU visa policy by several Western Balkans partners,” including “the commitments taken in the Reform Agendas under the Growth Plan, and on the rolling out new Frontex Status Agreements.
Irregular migration is addressed in a specific section, which highlights the “joint efforts to fully implement the EU Action Plan on the Western Balkans.” Border management, combating human trafficking, access to international protection, and developing returns to countries of origin are the main points of discussion. The partners in the Western Balkans are urgently asked to “provide financial and technical support, including through the European Border and Coast Guard Agency,” and to “further intensify cooperation with the EU Agency for Asylum and Europol.”
