Brussels, 31 October 2023 (MIA) – The visit of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the Western Balkans is a very clear sign of the great importance that the EU gives to enlargement process, European Commission Spokesperson Ana Pisonero stated on Tuesday.

"The enlargement process, in particular the Western Balkans, has been a top priority since the start of the mandate of this European Commission," Pisonero said.

According to MIA’s Brussels correspondent, she said in context to the enlargement is the new EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans for which von der Leyen referred to over the past two days during her visits to the countries in the Western Balkan.

“The President (von der Leyen) also flash out a bit more in details the proposal for a new growth plan for the Western Balkans to basically foster their economic convergence towards the European Union and very much bring them closer to the EU Single Market, to try to advance few of the benefits before accession comes,” Pisonero said.

She also emphasized that the European Commission is working on progress reports of the candidate countries, adding that they have been put on the agenda for consideration at the meeting of the College of Commissioners on November 8, so they will be published after their adoption.

As regards to the EU-facilitated dialogue process between Belgrade and Prishtina, the European Commission is fully supportive of the efforts that the High Representative Josep Borrell in his capacity as Facilitator of the Belgrade-Prishtina Dialogue, as well as to EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák, are doing here, Pisonero stated. 

Photo: EU