European Union - Western Balkans relations | Ipse by Context

Ursula von der Leyen

Inserted 1 month ago

“We have realised that it is not enough to just wait for the Western Balkans to move closer to us. It is not enough to say that the door is open. We must also take responsibility, and support their path towards our union in any possible way... More progress has been achieved in just over a year than in over a decade. First, Bosnia and Herzegovina is now fully aligned with our foreign and security policy, which is crucial in these times of geopolitical turmoil. The country is showing that it can deliver on the membership criteria, and on its citizens' aspiration to be part of our family. The message coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina is clear. So our message must be clear too. The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in our union.”

Aljazeera

President of the European Commission

12 Mar 2024 1 5

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Open Balkan is our way forward on the road to the European Union. We agreed that our three countries would not be held hostage to the failure of the European Union to unblock our European integration process. That process can be stopped in Brussels, but the Europeanization and implementation of European values in Northern Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania have no reason to be on hold.”

Rferl

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

21 Dec 2021 6 5

Sebastian Kurz

Inserted 2 years ago

“If the European Union does not offer this region [Western Balkans] a real perspective, we have to be aware that other superpowers … will play a bigger role there.”

Aljazeera

Austrian Chancellor

06 Oct 2021 (approx) 3 6

Arturs Krisjanis Karins

Inserted 2 years ago

“Either Europe extends the hand and pulls these [Western Balkan] countries toward us, or someone else will extend a hand and pull these countries in a different direction.”

Aljazeera

Prime Minister of Latvia

06 Oct 2021 (approx) 3 6

Ursula von der Leyen

Inserted 2 years ago

“We want them [six Western Balkans states] in the European Union, we are one European family. We share the same history, we share the same values, and I'm deeply convinced we share the same destiny too. I know that still work has to be done, for example, on the rule of law, on the judiciary, on the freedom of the media, to name some. But I think we should also acknowledge the effort that has been done in the past and the progress that has been done.”

Rferl

President of the European Commission

06 Oct 2021 5 6

Charles Michel

Inserted 2 years ago

“The focus will be on intensifying our engagement to foster the region's socio-economic recovery and sustainable development, and building back better after the pandemic on the basis of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. The President of the European Parliament will also participate in this session. This would also be an important occasion to discuss how to ensure the stability of the region, strengthen regional cooperation and resolve regional conflicts.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

President of the European Council

04 Oct 2021 5 4

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Leaving a vacuum in our part of Europe [Western Balkans] is not an option. We need a predictable, credible and re-intensified EU and NATO integration processes.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

14 Jun 2021 4 2

David Sassoli

Inserted 2 years ago

“Enlargement can bring immense benefits both to the region [Western Balkan states] and to Europe as a whole, helping to secure a stable, prosperous and peaceful continent. Reforms still need to be completed in every single one of these countries.”

Rferl

President of the European Parliament

06 Jun 2021 4 3

Miroslav Lajčák

Inserted 2 years ago

“The idea of redrawing borders is not new. It has been here for many years but it was brought to the forefront now. I deeply disagree with these ideas. I consider them extremely dangerous and a war-provoking idea. Unfortunately, the vision of EU membership for the Western Balkans has become more blurred more distant and therefore also less motivated. When we created a void in the region, others are coming with other ideas. If we are not serious with Plan A [EU membership for Balkan states], people would come with a Plan B and this is exactly what this first paper is about.”

Balkaninsight

European Union's special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks

04 May 2021 4 6

Josep Borrell

Inserted 3 years ago

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the European Union has supported the Western Balkans as its closest partner. Now we are also focusing on recovery, committing to long-term and sustainable support to the region through the European Union Economic and Investment Plan recently approved by the European Commission.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

11 Nov 2020 (approx) 4 2

Boyko Borisov

Inserted 3 years ago

“There is a lot of symbolism in the fact that Bulgaria and North Macedonia co-hosted the Summit. This was the first time that an EU member country and a Western Balkans country were hosts together, and this is a proof of our dedication to the development of the region.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

10 Nov 2020 5 3

Majlinda Bregu

Inserted 3 years ago

“The European Union has done a lot to mitigate the consequences in our region, the Economic and Investment Plan of the EU envisages nine billion euros in grants. Together with the already announced 3.3 billion euros to fight the pandemic, this is an incentive to make faster progress when it comes to economic development.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council

06 Nov 2020 4 3

Reinhard Priebe

Inserted 3 years ago

“In my view, there is no doubt about the EU perspective of the Western Balkans. The EU has reiterated over and over again. It is useless to express doubts about it and no one should express doubts where there are no doubts. This is not a revolution and the new methodology is not a guarantee that the process will speed up. My advice is that countries should try to make it work. Western Balkans membership in EU has never been put under the question.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Member of the Brussels advisory board of Transparency International

27 Oct 2020 2 3

Josep Borrell

Inserted 3 years ago

“Reports on the Enlargement Package provide a rigorous assessment that indicates the way forward, highlighting what has been achieved and where there is still hard work to be done. A credible enlargement policy is an investment in peace and security for the whole of Europe, even more so at a time of growing global challenges.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

06 Oct 2020 5 2

Ursula von der Leyen

Inserted 3 years ago

“Trust is the foundation of a strong partnership, and Europe will always be ready to build strong partnerships with our closest neighbours. This starts with the Western Balkans. The decision six months ago to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia was truly historical. Indeed, the future of the whole region is in the European Union. We share the same history, we share the same destiny. We will soon present the Economic Recovery Package for the region, focusing on the number of investment initiatives and we will be there for the Eastern Partnership countries and our Southern Neighbours as well.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

President of the European Commission

16 Sep 2020 5 2

Olivér Várhelyi

Inserted 3 years ago

“I look forward to discussions with member states and holding as soon as possible the first Intergovernmental Conference with the two countries. Their future is clear in the European Union, and I am confident that they will continue to implement reforms on their path to the EU, as they have done so far.”

Tiranatimes

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

08 Jul 2020 3 8

Edi Rama

Inserted 3 years ago

“Why should we not have the freedom of movement of people, goods, capital and services? These are the four freedoms of the European Union itself! In fact, the introduction of these four freedoms was badly named by somebody as ‘mini-Schengen’. I hate that name because I am too tall to accept ‘mini’ things. The more we co-operate and talk, the more people get to know each other in everyday life, business, in terms of human and cultural exchange, and in many other fields, which will make it easier for us to understand each other and solve problems. Otherwise, if we wait to solve everything before we start co-operating, we will never be able to co-operate or solve all our problems.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Albanian Prime Minister

12 May 2020 (approx) 2 4

Srdan Cvijić

Inserted 3 years ago

“Whereas many will develop immunity from the Coronavirus, I am sorry to see that some of the EU’s leaders are not resistant to another kind of “virus” – that of enlargement skepticism. The Declaration following the Summit continues to use a euphemism “European perspective” when it should be talking about “EU membership”, “enlargement”, “EU accession” of the countries of the region.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Senior Analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute in Brussels

08 May 2020 0 5

Tena Prelec

Inserted 3 years ago

“The real achievement of this summit was that it was held at all. Considering the circumstances, this was not a foregone conclusion. EU countries had to pledge, at least nominally, their support for the region’s EU perspective, at a time in which everybody’s thoughts would otherwise be focused elsewhere.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Research Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford

08 May 2020 0 4

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European Union - Western Balkans relations

“If the European Union does not offer this region [Western Balkans] a real perspective, we have to be aware that other superpowers … will play a bigger role there.”

“Either Europe extends the hand and pulls these [Western Balkan] countries toward us, or someone else will extend a hand and pull these countries in a different direction.”

“Leaving a vacuum in our part of Europe [Western Balkans] is not an option. We need a predictable, credible and re-intensified EU and NATO integration processes.”

“Enlargement can bring immense benefits both to the region [Western Balkan states] and to Europe as a whole, helping to secure a stable, prosperous and peaceful continent. Reforms still need to be completed in every single one of these countries.”

“There is a lot of symbolism in the fact that Bulgaria and North Macedonia co-hosted the Summit. This was the first time that an EU member country and a Western Balkans country were hosts together, and this is a proof of our dedication to the development of the region.”

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