Sofia Summit, “EU facing Russia in Balkans

Albania's Foreign Minister, Ditmir Bushati, says the new reality created in the region requires more clarity for the orientation of more Western Balkan countries in Euro-Atlantic space.

He's in an interview for EUOobserver said that unlike the Thessaloniki summit, EU efforts must face Russian influence in a new geopolitical environment.

“Russia opposes NATO enlargement in the region and seeks to intervene in EU-led reforms”, Bushati has said.

He added that the West should take care of Russian intervention in Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

“Nationalism is driven by third parties (Russia) whose interest is instability and not stability. It's a dangerous principle they're trying to exploit. Russia has made more public statements during events in Macedonia than the EU and Macedonia's closest neighbours combined. The Russian Foreign Ministry looks intently and is always the first to comment”, Bushat follows, referring to political clashes in Skopje last year.

And in Albania, which is also a NATO member, where we thought we were immune from Russian intervention... there is an investigation into claims that our political opponents have received financial support from Russia, in violation of the” law, the minister said.

Otherwise, EU leaders are preparing to demonstrate their commitment to expanding the Western Balkans in Sofia on Thursday. But the summit will take place amid increased competition from Russia, according to Albania, one of the key to EU entry.

“The EU reconfirms its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans”, the EU leaders' declaration said in draft.

“Based on the progress achieved so far, Western Balkan partners have restored European perspective as their strategic selection” is the purpose of their words. The summit is the first of this type since the EU promised Greece's Thessaloniki accession 15 years ago.

“The future of the Balkans is with the European Union: Despite the ongoing “enlargement”, it was said at the time by EU leaders.

The Sofia summit has been set up to speed up this progress, as the European Commission said Montenegro and Serbia could join 2025.

The commission has also decided in the race and Albania and Macedonia, recommending the opening of negotiations. Sofia's nine-page statement mainly speaks of initiatives of little importance, such as highways, airport projects, and no significant statement.