Skopje, 18 December 2024 (MIA) – Implementing the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, regional integration efforts and ways to further improve the gradual integration between the European Union and the region will be discussed at Wednesday’s EU-Western Balkans Summit, in which Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski will take part, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, and the Minister of European Affairs, Orhan Murtezani.

In addition to taking part in the Summit, Mickoski will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Mickoski will also participate in the European People’s Party – EPP summit in Brussels, said the Government in a press release.

Speaking to reporters this past Saturday, Mickoski said that messages coming from Brussels are not quite clear, noting that the country’s message is clear – the country has done enough like no EU member before. 

"We will continue to promote European values, do our homework, and if they are ready to find a constructive solution and continue on the right path, we are always ready to respond positively to such a request. Otherwise, I can conclude that we, as a country and as part of the Balkans, are unfortunately not the focus of this Brussels administration," said the PM.

In an interview with five journalists from Western Balkan media outlets, including MIA, the President of the European Council, António Costa, said efforts must be made for the country to fully meet its commitments, which are set as preconditions for the country to formally open accession negotiations.

“It's necessary to respect what North Macedonia has already committed to. I think it's very important to achieve this, to strengthen the confidence between North Macedonia and the neighbours, especially with Bulgaria, and we need to work on ensuring that North Macedonia respects all the commitments that are a precondition to formally open the negotiations. I have great respect for the huge effort made by North Macedonia in the past to overcome the obstacles, especially with Greece. It is a partner that even changed its name to overcome this obstacle,” Costa said in a response to MIA’s question.

Today’s meeting will serve as an opportunity to pursue the new momentum for the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Western Balkans, including a reflection on how to deepen that partnership and move forward together towards a joint future in the European Union, the European Council said announcing the EU-Western Balkans Summit.

The main topics of discussion at the event, which starts this afternoon, will include enhancing the EU-Western Balkans integration through the growth plan, deepening EU’s political and policy engagement with the Western Balkans in multiple areas, including foreign and security policy, building an economic foundation for the future and mitigating the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and cooperation in migration management and the fight against corruption and organised crime.

“Over dinner, leaders will also discuss the geopolitical context and challenges affecting both regions,” said the press release. The summit will be chaired by President António Costa, for the first time in his new capacity as the President of the European Council. 

As regards strengthening EU-Western Balkans integration through the Growth Plan, the EU is committed to bringing the Western Balkans partners closer to the EU during the enlargement process, said the press release. 

“Their gradual integration has already started in different policy areas, preparing the ground for accession and bringing concrete benefits for citizens. Launched in 2023, the growth plan aims to further integrate the Western Balkans partners into the EU single market through the advancement of regional economic cooperation, as well as to incentivise the necessary EU-related reforms,” it added. 

The growth plan, according to the EU, has the potential to double economic growth in the region over the next decade and to accelerate socioeconomic convergence between the Western Balkans and the EU, provided that the partners implement the EU-related reforms which they have set out in their respective reform agendas.

On deepening the EU's political and policy engagement with the Western Balkans in multiple areas, the bloc aims to further deepen its political and policy engagement with the Western Balkans partners in areas such as foreign and security policy, security and defence, cooperation and resilience to hybrid and cyber threats to counter foreign interference and disinformation, and people-to-people contacts, and measures for young people through research, innovation, education and social policy.

“The EU remains the region's closest partner, its main investor and trading partner and its main donor. The EU will continue to support its Western Balkan partners in helping to mitigate the impact that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is having on their economies, societies and security,” said the press release.

The EU, it adds, will continue its engagement with Western Balkan partners through the instrument for pre-accession assistance, the economic and investment plan and the energy support package.

The EU and the Western Balkans, says the press release, have a shared responsibility for addressing common challenges. “They should strengthen their cooperation in a number of key areas: migration management, visa policy, counterterrorism and violent extremism, combating organised crime and corruption and justice and rule of law.

At the end of the summit, a declaration is expected to be issued. The draft-declaration, seen by MIA ahead of the Summit, says the future of the Western Balkans is in the Union and the EU leaders once again reconfirm their full and unequivocal commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans.

“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.

MIA file photo