TIRANA – EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, emphasized that the entire Western Balkans is inherently part of the European Union, entitled to full rights as equal members. She made this statement during the Summit of Western Balkan and EU leaders held today in Tirana, which included attendance from Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut. “We aim for all of you to advance in unity, as we do not wish for any to fall behind. In the end, the entire Western Balkans belongs to the European Union as equal members, fully aligned with EU laws and values,” Kos remarked, stressing the importance of accelerating reform efforts.
Addressing the Growth Plan, she highlighted the significance of achieving economic alignment between the Western Balkans and EU nations. “Experience shows that as a candidate country nears EU accession, there is an increase in tourism, heightened media presence, and growing interest among citizens of member states. Let us maximize the next two years of the Growth Plan to ensure its success and lay the groundwork for your EU accession, as its primary goal is to aid your development toward equal EU membership in the future,” Kos conveyed to the Western Balkan leaders. She pointed out that the Growth Plan has invigorated the integration process and affirmed that the Western Balkans is already a part of Europe, awaiting formal institutional recognition. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, in his opening remarks, noted the region’s commitment to collectively progress, using the Growth Plan as a shared roadmap, aiming not only towards Brussels but also for the freedoms and opportunities offered by a unified European market.
Rama remarked that the Western Balkans has never witnessed reforms of such transformative magnitude and emphasized the region’s aspiration to grow alongside Europe, rather than at its expense, daily demonstrating its belonging to the EU. (November 21)
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