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EU meets Western Balkans countries for summit in Brussels

EU meets Western Balkans countries for summit in Brussels

,   and  ASMedia
2 min read
EU meets Western Balkans countries for summit in Brussels
EU meets Western Balkans countries for summit in Brussels

EU and Western Balkan Countries Gather in Brussels Summit

Remember the promise made at the October summit in Albania, where the EU pledged six billion euros to the Western Balkan countries if they committed to reforms? That's right—the Brussels summit is all about reaffirming those accession prospects. But Austrians and Eastern European EU countries, like Hungary, are pushing for the Western Balkan states to keep an eye on Ukraine. Just a few weeks ago, Vienna made joining the EU a condition for Bosnia-Herzegovina's accession talks if Ukraine's negotiations move forward.

Montenegro and North Macedonia are eager to make headway towards EU membership at the Brussels summit. Last week, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, held meetings with Kosovo's leaders to discuss ongoing tensions. After the Albania summit, Bosnia-Herzegovina is expected to follow through with reforms to secure EU funding.

The Buzz in the Western Balkans

  1. EU Strategy Updates: The European Commission is gearing up to unveil a new Western Balkans strategy by 2025. The goal is to breathe new life into the accession process for Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia by 2025. Key components? Strong political will, real reforms, and progress on resolving disputes with neighbors[1].
  2. Serbia and Montenegro: These two countries might be EU-ready by 2025, with EU accession treaties in place by the end of 2025. The rest of the Western Balkan states should be well on their way to EU accession by then[1].
  3. Disputes and Reforms: The EU can't and won't tolerate importing bilateral disputes. All partners must work on resolving disputes prior to their EU accession[1].

Ukraine's EU Journey

  1. Candidate Status: On June 23, 2022, Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership, under the condition it completed seven key reforms. These include changes in the Constitution Court, judicial reform, anti-corruption measures, and more[2].
  2. Accession Negotiations: The green light was given for accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova to open on June 25, 2024. This is a significant step in aligning the countries closer to Western nations and reducing Russia's influence[2].
  3. Support and Reforms: The European Commission has outlined seven reforms for Ukraine to implement, while the European Parliament has urged swift progress for Ukraine and Moldova's EU membership aspirations[2].

General Developments

  1. Ukraine's Progress: Intergovernmental conferences between Ukraine and the EU have already taken place in June 2024. The EU is currently assessing Ukraine's domestic rules and governance mechanisms to align with EU acquis[3].
  2. EU Enlargement Process: Despite ongoing efforts, little progress has been seen in the Western Balkans' officially rated preparedness for EU accession[3].

While the EU enlargement process looks promising for Ukraine and some Western Balkan states, it's clear that challenges remain. But one thing's for sure—political will, real reforms, and resolving disputes will play a crucial role in the journey to EU membership for these countries.

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