Brussels, 17 December 2024 (MIA) - The future of the Western Balkans is in our Union. We once again reconfirm our full and unequivocal commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans, reads the draft-final declaration of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, due on Wednesday in Brussels, in which Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski will also take part, accompanied by the ministers of foreign and European affairs, Timcho Mucunski and Orhan Murtezani respectively.

“Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity, as stated in the Granada Declaration. There is a new dynamism in the enlargement process and notable progress since our last Summit. The acceleration of the accession process, based on credible reforms by partners, fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits, is in our mutual interest,” says the document, seen by MIA. 

Reconciliation, inclusive regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, it adds, are at the heart of the European Union. Implementing international agreements in good faith and with tangible results, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation with Bulgaria, is therefore essential.

“Decisive further efforts are still required to foster reconciliation and regional stability, as well as to find and to implement definitive, inclusive and binding solutions to partners’ regional and bilateral disputes and issues rooted in the legacy of the past, in line with international law and established principles, including the Agreement on Succession Issues, and the remaining cases of missing persons and war crimes issues,” reads the so-called draft-Brussels Declaration.

According to the document, the EU is committed to bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU already during the enlargement process. 

“Their gradual integration has already started in different policy areas, preparing the ground for accession and bringing concrete benefits to citizens, in a reversible and merit-based manner,” it adds.

The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, says the declaration, has the potential to double economic growth in the region over the next decade. It will accelerate socio-economic convergence between the Western Balkans and the EU, provided partners implement the EU-related reforms.

“We commend five of the partners for the preparation and submission of their Reform Agendas, approved by the Commission, which will be the basis of implementation of the Growth Plan.”

“We commend and congratulate those partners who have already joined the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), which will lower the costs of transactions for people. We look forward to others joining soon. We welcome the joint work done towards the modernisation of 11 priority crossing points in the region and encourage its continuation at an accelerated pace. The EU counts on the Western Balkans partners to advance regional economic integration through the Common Regional Market (CRM), which is a stepping stone and a precondition for closer integration with the EU single market.”

The EU welcomes the resolve of the Western Balkans partners to respect and commit to core European values and principles, in line with international law and the restated commitment to the primacy of democracy, fundamental rights and values and the rule of law, notes the document.

According to the EU, the rule of law, freedom of expression, independent and pluralistic media, gender equality, and a strong role for civil society are crucial to ensure a functioning democracy. “In this respect, actions will speak louder than words as partners take ownership and implement the necessary reforms, notably in the area of fundamentals. The EU calls on partners to guarantee the rights and equal treatment of persons belonging to minorities. We will continue to support our partners’ efforts to fight organised crime and corruption.”

In the context of the radical change of the global geopolitical situation, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, and at the start of the new EU leadership cycle the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Western Balkans is more important than ever, conclude EU leaders in the draft-declaration.

“We share a common future and face urgent challenges that we can only overcome together. We owe it to our citizens to build a future of peace and prosperity, based on shared principles and values, and common interests.”

The geopolitical context in Europe demands unity and solidarity from us all, in firm support of Ukraine and in defence of the international rules-based order, urge the EU leaders. 

“Standing together with the EU remains a clear sign of our Western Balkan partners' strategic orientation,” says the document adding the EU will continue to invest in multilateralism and cooperate with partners to uphold international law. “In this respect, we commend those Western Balkan partners that are already fully aligned with the EU’s CFSP and urge those that have not yet done so to follow suit. We stress the importance of full implementation and improved enforcement of restrictive measures and the prevention of their circumvention. We welcome partners’ continued commitment to the EU Common and Security Defence Policy (CSDP), including the contribution to EU’s missions and operations.”

According to the draft-declaration, the EU and its Western Balkan partners need to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnerships in migration management, which is a shared challenge and responsibility and a key priority. “While acknowledging progress made, further resolute action is needed to align visa policy, combat the smuggling of migrants, trafficking in human beings and all forms of serious and organised crime. We commit to reinforce our cooperation on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism.”

The EU will continue to support its Western Balkan partners to help mitigate the impact that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has on their economies, societies, and security, says the document adding the EU will continue its support through the Instrument of Pre-accession assistance, the Economic and Investment Plan, the Energy Support Package, and the European Peace Facility.

“The EU reaffirms its commitment to further develop and strengthen dialogue and cooperation in security and defence with the Western Balkans. We welcome that Security and Defence Partnerships were agreed with the first partners this year, and that the European Peace Facility support is reinforcing security and resilience in the region. The EU will continue to support the region in tackling hybrid and cyber threats as well as foreign information manipulation and interference such as Russian narratives and disinformation about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” states the document.

The absence of a normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade is holding back both partners, note the EU leaders. “The Agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue must be implemented, in particular the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Annex. The EU recalls that a precondition for the support under the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans is for the parties to engage constructively with measurable progress and tangible results in the normalisation of their relations.”

“The EU remains the region’s closest partner, main investor and trading partner and its main donor. We count on our Western Balkan partners to make this visible with the public and to demonstrate their commitment to EU values and reforms through words and actions, supported by EU strategic communications. We look forward to the first European Political Community Summit to take place in the Western Balkans region, in Tirana next year, following the successful Summit held in Budapest in October, as this platform continues to provide an important forum for in-depth exchanges between the leaders on peace, security, stability and economic development for our continent,” concludes the draft-Brussels Declaration, set to be adopted at Wednesday’s EU-Western Balkans Summit. 

MIA file photo