European Union leaders hosted their counterparts from the Western Balkans countries in Brussels on Wednesday for talks on deepening ties, with some in the region growing increasingly impatient about joining the bloc.
Montenegro wants to join the EU by 2028, said the country’s President Jakov Milatovic as he arrived at the meeting.
The target was “very ambitious” but feasible, he said, adding that momentum was on his side.
“The winds in Brussels have now sort of changed,” he said.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine made Brussels and other EU capitals realise that letting new members join the bloc is crucial for the security of the EU, Milatovic stated.
Montenegro, which started accession talks in 2012, is seen as the frontrunner among the six countries of the region – Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – who all aspire to join the EU.
Despite stressing the importance of deepening ties with the countries, EU chiefs did not make any concrete commitments.
The new EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas said she wants to see a “real advancement” on enlargement during her five-year mandate.
European Council President Antonio Costas acknowledged that some countries stuck in membership talks for years are growing impatient.
“Tonight we heard about the frustrations from the region,” Costas said, before stressing that Montenegro and Albania have achieved “significant progress in the past year.”
Brussels wants to use EU membership as a carrot to compete with Russia and China for economic and geopolitical influence and has tried to reinvigorate expansion, however advances have been incremental and slow.
In particular, the EU wants the Western Balkan countries to align with the bloc’s foreign policy objectives, especially in supporting Ukraine and backing Western sanctions on Russia.
“Enlargement is the most important geopolitical investment in peace, security and prosperity,” Costas said.
Serbia – which has strong historical ties to Moscow, while condemning its invasion of Ukraine – has declined to impose Western sanctions on the Kremlin. Belgrade also imports a lot of Russian gas.
Chinese investment is also a major factor in the region, with Beijing vying alongside the United States and the EU for strategic relations, amid global geopolitical turmoil.
In a joint declaration adopted by leaders in Brussels, the EU pledged to expand defence cooperation by helping to protect the region from cyber threats or foreign interference, including Russian disinformation campaigns.
Both sides also stated their readiness to work together to tackle illegal migration through aligning visa policies and combating the smuggling of migrants.
In the declaration, the EU reiterated the values of the bloc, such as the rule of law, freedom of expression and the protection of minorities, and stressed that necessary reforms must be carried out for EU accession.
In the absence of tangible membership progress, the EU is trying to leverage the economic relationship to bring the region closer through economic cooperation agreements.
“There is no other region in the world into which the European Union has invested so many resources, financial resources, human resources and expertise,” Costas said.
“The European Union is already the biggest economic partner and investor in the Western Balkans. It is and will remain the most reliable partner in the future,” he added.
The EU is making financial aid available to the tune of €6 billion ($6.3 billion) in loans and grants for the region between 2024-2027, linked to completed reforms.
As well as boosting their economies, the funds are to encourage the Western Balkan countries to implement comprehensive reforms and ensure respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights.
There is no time limit how long the accession procedure can last. The first Western Balkan country to join the EU, Slovenia, was one of 10 new members that acceded in 2004. Croatia joined in 2013.
The EU opened negotiations with Montenegro and Serbia in 2012 and 2014 respectively, and with Albania and North Macedonia in 2022. Bosnia-Herzegovina applied for EU membership in 2016 but formal accession talks are yet to start.
Kosovo applied to join the EU in 2022. However, five EU countries – Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain – do not recognize Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
Outside the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Turkey are also official candidates for EU membership.
Author :
Publish date : 2024-12-18 12:42:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
The post West Balkans dare to hope on joining EU with mood ‘sort of’ changed first appeared on Love Europe.
Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-12-18 22:44:57
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.