What is expected by the EU-Western Balkans summit?

On the one hand, the EU is expected to reiterate the commitment of the Western Balkan region's European perspective and also the countries of the region to repeat their orientation towards the EU.

According to diplomatic sources in Brussels, all 27 EU member states have agreed with the text of the draft declaration to be adopted in this summit. It says that EU leaders welcome partners' commitment from the Western Balkans to the European perspective, which according to this document, “is in strategic interest and remains a joint strategic election”.

Even in earlier statements by such summits, again, calls will be repeated for respecting the principles of democracy, rule of law, media freedom, civil society, the fight against corruption and organised crime, minority rights and other criteria which are fundamental principles of the EU.

There have been great efforts by several member states to clearly mention EU enlargement. In the end, member states have agreed to mention this, but also the condition of the EU's internal development to accept new members.

“The EU reconfirms commitment to the enlargement process and decisions in that direction, based on partner loan reforms, fair and rigorous conditioning and individual merit principles. Therefore, we will further intensify our commitment to the region towards political, social and economic transformation, recognising progress achieved by the Western Balkans. In this context, we underline the importance of ensuring that the EU preserves and deepens its development, including capacities to integrate new members”, says the latest version of the draft declaration, expected to be adopted in Brdo.

The EU's increased support will also depend in the future on tangible progress in the area of rule of law and socio-economic reforms, as well as the commitment of partners to European values, rules and standards”, the draft declaration said.

The EU will also require that countries in the region continue to adapt their positions to foreign policy with common EU attitudes. Also cited in the document by leaders of Western Balkan countries as “parter”, it is required to do more to explain the importance of European institutions and the fact that the EU is undoubtedly the closest partner, the main investor and biggest donor for the region.

This call comes because, in some countries in the region, there is an impression that other countries have helped more than the European Union.

The unprecedented subx0-level support should be generally visible and recognised by our partners even in their public communication”, the document says.

From the text of this draft, it is also seen that the EU will require countries in the region to be committed to good neighbourlyity and to resolving all open issues among them.

The further established steps are needed to strengthen regional reconciliation and stability, as well as to find and implement final solutions, including including the burden of bilateral differences between partners and issues that are rooted in the legacy of the past, in line with international law principles, including the Agreement on Success”, are said in the text of this draft document.

From this summit, according to the same text, it is expected to express full support even the EU special envoy's efforts for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak.

The message for dialogue is expected to be this: “that there be concrete progress of the parties towards the full normalisation of the reports between them, which is key to the stability of the region”.

“This will ensure that both sides can walk on their respective European path”, the document says.

Much of the text is also dedicated to the assistance the EU has given and will continue to provide for the countries of the region in the fight against pandemic, especially through donations for vaccination.

“The EU will support the plans for vaculation for all partners in order to help the level of vaccine be similar to that of the EU by the end of 2021”, the document says.

EU sources in Brussels, speaking to reporters, including that of Radio Free Europe, under anonymity have said they do not expect any problems this time in participating in the summit on the part of leaders of the 27 EU states, because of Kosovo.

In view of the sensitivity of five states that have not recognised Kosovo, we have organised the summit with a neutral approach to Kosovo status”, a diplomatic source within the EU has said.

At a similar summit that was held in Sofia in 2019, Spain had refused to participate because of Kosovo's participation.

Kosovo's independence does not recognise five EU countries: Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania./ REL