Brussels, 17 December 2025 (MIA) – Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and rising geopolitical challenges underscore the need for ever-stronger ties between the EU and the Western Balkans, reads the Brussels Declaration issued at Wednesday's EU-Western Balkans Summit, also attended by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. 

"We, the leaders of the European Union (EU) and of its Member States, in consultation with our Western Balkans partners, today concluded the following: Today’s Summit demonstrates the strength of our relationship and the benefits it brings to our citizens. The Summit is the most significant occasion in the year to reconfirm the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Western Balkans," the Declaration states. 

The document reaffirms full and unequivocal commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans. 

"The future of the Western Balkans is in our Union. Enlargement is a realistic possibility, which should be seized. We welcome the new dynamism and progress made since the 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. Enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity, as stated in Granada Declaration. The urgencies of our time call for a sustained momentum. Aspiring members need to step up their reform efforts. In parallel, the Union needs to step up its internal groundwork and reforms," the Brussels Declaration notes. 

It highlights that inclusive regional cooperation, reconciliation and good neighbourly relations remain key to building a shared future as well as 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.

"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," it adds. 

The Declaration underlines that the EU welcomes the Western Balkans partners’ commitment to uphold European values and principles, in line with international law, the primacy of democracy, fundamental rights and values and the rule of law, and expects them to demonstrate this in both words and action by taking ownership and implementing the necessary reforms, notably in the area of fundamentals.

"Freedom of expression, independent and pluralistic media, gender equality, and a strong role for civil society are crucial to ensure a functioning democracy. The EU calls on partners to guarantee the rights and equal treatment of persons belonging to minorities," the Declaration reads. 

The leaders stand united in unwavering support for and solidarity with Ukraine, as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war of aggression, reiterating support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the UN Charter and international law. 

"Alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including the implementation and enforcing of the EU’s restrictive measures and countering circumvention, remains a strong expression of a partner’s strategic choice. We commend those Western Balkans partners that are already fully aligned and urge those who have not yet done so to follow suit. The EU welcomes partners’ contributions to the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations. The EU continues to support the Western Balkans in tackling cyber and other hybrid threats, foreign information manipulation and interference and to further strengthen cooperation to build resilience, including through the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre and the European Democracy Shield," notes the document. 

It further welcomes the first Security and Defence Partnerships in the Western Balkans and the launching of Security and Defence Dialogues, reaffirming commitment to ongoing support under the European Peace Facility.

"We remain committed to bringing the Western Balkan partners closer to the EU already during the enlargement process. Gradual integration, carried out in a reversible and merit-based manner, is ongoing in several policy areas, front-loading concrete benefits for citizens and preparing the ground for accession. Further proposals on gradual integration should be considered, subject to relevant EU acquis alignment. Advancing on economic integration should fully preserve the integrity of the EU single market and a level playing field," the Declaration adds.

The Brussels Declaration welcomes progress on the gradual integration of the Western Balkans partners into the EU Single Market, including on implementing the Single Market Highway initiatives and extending the EU-Western Balkans Green Lanes, the successful accession of several partners to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), joining or replicating digital initiatives, and the reduction of data roaming costs. 

"The Growth Plan will speed up the socio-economic convergence between the Western Balkans and the EU, provided partners implement the EU-related reforms. The Growth Plan has the potential to accelerate economic growth in the region over the next decade by providing up to EUR 6 billion for reforms and investments. This is in addition to the EUR 29 billion being rolled out through the Economic and Investment Plan. The EU calls for making the most of the unprecedented opportunities provided by the Growth Plan through timely implementation of reforms," the Brussels Declaration notes. 

The document underlines that the Common Regional Market is a catalyst for deeper integration and a stepping stone to the EU Single Market, adding that the EU calls upon the Western Balkans partners to fully commit to constructive cooperation in making it a reality and to implement the agreements already concluded. 

The Declaration supports ongoing efforts to diversify sources and routes of energy supplies, highlights that migration management remains a shared challenge and responsibility and a key priority, and calls for joint efforts to continue in the fight against corruption, drug trafficking, and all forms of serious and organised crime.

In addition, the document notes that the absence of a normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade continues to hold back both partners on their European path, urging for implementation of all agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, in particular the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Annex. 

"We stress the importance of continued mutual efforts on strategic communication, including on the benefits of enlargement and gradual integration as well as the need to build trust, understanding and cross-societal consensus. We count on our Western Balkans partners to communicate to their public that the EU remains the region’s closest partner, main donor, investor and trading partner and to demonstrate their commitment to EU values and reforms through words and actions," reads the Declaration, announcing that the next EU-Western Balkans Summit will be held in Montenegro in June 2026.

At the end of the document, it is stated that the European leaders welcome Western Balkans partners’ alignment with this Declaration, with a footnote that says Serbia has not aligned with the document. 

The Summit was not attended by representatives of Serbia.  

Photo: European Council