Close territorial conflicts in the Western Balkans, Juncker says

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday that the European Union is open to all Western Balkan countries, but not without all open issues between these countries.

He made these comments in Sofia, Bulgaria, at a meeting attended by leaders of the six Western Balkan countries.

Juncker said no country met all the criteria for integration into the European Union, though, according to him, very big progress has been noted in these countries, reports the Voice of America.

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Juncker visited the region during the week and in Belgrade and Pristina reiterated that a comprehensive agreement is needed for normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo as a condition for their integration.

The two sides are expected to continue talks on such an agreement perhaps over the next month. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic met today in Sofia at an informal meeting to discuss this issue.

In addition to resolving conflicts, countries in the region are also required internal reforms.

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Early in February, the European Commission unveiled the Strategy for Enlargement with Western Balkan countries, which is one of the important developments for the region this year. In April, the European Commission will publish its progress report, while in May, the Western Balkan countries' summit is expected to be held. The enlargement strategy will be discussed later in June at the European Union's summit, while in July the next meeting of Western Balkan countries will be held in London.

These developments are seen as a renewed European Union effort for a different approach to the troubled region due to increased Russian influence, the immigration crisis, Turkey's slide towards authoritarianism and the goal of strengthening European integration after Britain left in 2019.