With Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the crisis in the Middle East, the statement acknowledges that this is a period of risks to European and global security, and stresses the importance of the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans. The significance of this partnership was reaffirmed by the participants in the EU-Western Balkans Summit in the so-called Brussels Declaration: “The future of the Western Balkans is in our union.”

The 27 EU member states and the 6 partner states in the Western Balkans met in Brussels on 13 December for the annual EU-Western Balkans Summit. The EU was represented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

The goal of the annual discussions at the Western Balkans Summit is to reinforce the European prospects of the Western Balkans states and to stress the EU’s comprehensive support for the region.

The term “Western Balkans” has political as well as geographical significance. It was adopted as an official EU term at the 1998 EU summit in Vienna and refers to those states on the Balkan peninsula which are not yet members of the EU. This is why Albania, the former Yugoslav states of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are all counted as Western Balkan States, but not Slovenia and Croatia, which joined the EU in 2004 and 2013 respectively.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz already came out in support of EU accession for the Western Balkans States in his government statement to the Bundestag. Scholz said that, after more than 20 years it is time for all involved – accession candidates and EU member states alike – to see “the big picture”. He stressed that the “big picture” was a historic opportunity to anchor the region within Europe and to leave past conflicts behind us.” In his view the region itself would benefit, and the EU would also benefit geopolitically.

Reforms needed

However, the Federal Chancellor has also repeatedly made it clear that it is up to each country that wants to join the EU to decide how quickly that happens. “These countries need to get in shape to join the European Union, and reforms are key to that,” he said, speaking after the Berlin Process meeting for the Western Balkans on 16 October 2023.

According to the Brussels Declaration, major areas for reform include the rule of law and trade. The EU has also stressed the need for efforts to fight corruption and organised crime, and stronger support for principles such as human rights and gender equality.

The EU is already conducting accession negotiations with Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Bosnia Herzegovina has achieved the status of accession candidate, but it is not yet involved in the negotiations. Kosovo is a potential accession candidate.

EU backs the Western Balkans

In order to lay a solid economic foundation for the future and counter the negative effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU is backing its partners in the Western Balkans, particularly through the EU Energy Support Package. It includes grants worth 1 billion euros to mobilise investment worth 2.5 billion euros.

Ongoing support through the Economic and Investment Plan and the green and digital agendas for the Western Balkans will also help strengthen the region’s economy and resilience. This is taking place through additional support for greater and more resilient connectivity, the energy transition and diversifying energy supplies.

Promoting rapprochement: a new campus of the College of Europe in Tirana is being opened to promote mutual understanding and a feeling of belonging between the EU and the Western Balkans. Young people from the Western Balkans and also from EU member states will be able to study in the Albanian capitol from 2024.

Federal Chancellor Scholz remained in Brussels after the EU-Western Balkans Summit to attend a meeting of the European Council with other heads of state and government.