What are the main points of the EU Summit agenda Thaci participates in

Initially projected to happen in Zagreb, the Zagreb EU-Western Balkans Summit takes place on May 6th 2020 through videoconference due to COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the goals of the summit?

The EU is the most important partner of the Western Balkan region, and video conferences will underline the importance of unique Western EU-Balkan relations.

In the Fight Against COVID-19, the European Union and the Western Balkans are united. The summit will provide an opportunity to highlight mutual solidarity and co-operation in these times of crisis. Partners in the region have contributed to help EU member states, while the European Union has mobilised over 3.3 billion euros to help the Western Balkans deal with the coronary crisis.

Meeting Western Balkan leaders: The EU strengthens support to address the COVID-19 crisis, and outlines the post-demia healing proposal (European Commission's press release of April 29, 2020).

Reporting to the EU's response to the coronary pandemic in the Western Balkans.

Leaders will also reaffirm the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the commitment of Western Balkan partners to support European values and principles.

During the first informal meeting with Western Balkan partners in Brussels on February 16th 2020, President Michel stressed the EU's commitment to the region.

“We need to deepen our strategic co-operation on issues such as climate change, multilatheralism and foreign policy. ”

Apprecation by President Charles Michel prior to the informal EU-Balkans meeting

The leaders will exchange opinions on the new phase of close co-operation to address the significant socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the importance of regional co-operation, as well as the best management of security challenges.

Who wants to attend the summit?

The EU-Western Balkans summit will bring together:

heads of state or governments from EU member states

Leader of six Western Balkan partners: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and Kosovo.

European Council President Charles Michel will chair the meeting. It will represent the EU together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyeen.

Andrej Plenković, the prime minister of Croatia, who currently holds the presidency of the Council, Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy David Sasssol, European Parliament President, representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will also attend the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Regional Co-operation Council.

A press conference will take place after the summit, with Presidents Michel, von der Leyen and Prime Minister Plenkov.

Background

Previous Summit The EU-Western Balkans was held on 17 May 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria. It brought together heads of state or governments from EU member states and leaders from six Western Balkan partners. EU leaders agreed on Sofia's statement, with which Western Balkan partners are listed. They also approved Sofia's priority agenda as an annex to the declaration and outlined new measures for enhanced co-operation with the region.