EU and Western Balkans leaders are meeting in Brussels one year after the 2022 summit in Tirana.
The EU aims to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU, preparing the ground for accession, and bringing concrete benefits to their citizens already during the enlargement process.
To this end, the EU intends to explore additional measures aimed at further advancing gradual integration.
The EU underlines the importance of fully using the potential of existing legal instruments.
Bringing Western Balkans partners closer to the EU and advancing gradual integration
The EU aims to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU, preparing the ground for accession, and bringing concrete benefits to their citizens already during the enlargement process.
To this end, the EU intends to explore additional measures aimed at further advancing gradual integration.
The EU underlines the importance of fully using the potential of existing legal instruments.
Mitigating the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
In order to mitigate the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU is determined to furtherintensify its political engagement with the Western Balkans region, in addition to the assistance already provided.
The EU will continue its support for the Western Balkan partners intackling the negative effects on their economies and societies.
Reinforcing security and building resilience
The summit will be an opportunity to discuss coordinated actions related to security issues, which have become even more relevant in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
This includes fighting foreign information manipulation and enhancing collective cybersecurity.
In today’s EU-Western Balkans Summit, the Brussels declaration was agreed upon.
