Borrell: Even before the war in Ukraine, tensions rose between Kosovo and Serbia
(4 years ago)European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell after visits to Albania, Bosnia and Northern Macedonia said it is time to move forward in the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU, while adding that even before the war in Ukraine there were rising tensions in the region, especially between Serbia and Kosovo. In his blog, the European top diplomat [...]
In his blog, the European top diplomat writes that war in Ukraine brings vivid memories of wars about the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s.
But even before the war in Ukraine, there was a disturbing recovery of tensions in the region, especially within Bosnia and Herzegovina and between Serbia and Kosovo. We have seen external interventions aiming to destabilise our neighbours and weaken the European Union, especially through subtle and well-documented deinformation campaigns of Russia”, Borrell said.
The first of European diplomacy said that during his visit to northern Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina stressed the EU's commitment to further support the Western Balkans and further the future of the region in the European Union.
The future of the Western Balkans lies clearly within the EU they are not our yard, but our yard. We recognise the frustration in the region for delays in moving ahead on the road towards the EU. Our practical support and a clear road ahead for EU integration are the key to keeping the region set on this road,” has said Borrell.
Furthermore, the European top diplomat stressed that Albania and Northern Macedonia have met all requirements to start membership negotiations with the EU and that he is personally working to ensure that the start of membership negotiations takes place as soon as possible.
This should now happen under the French presidency of the EU Council. I am encouraging northern Macedonia and Bulgaria to resolve their remaining bilateral issues as priority issues. It is in the EU's clear strategic interest to move forward”, Borrell said.
Speaking of the Russian invasion, Borrell stressed that President Vladimir Putin's brutal attack on Ukraine “obliges all countries to make a choice between the rule of law and the rule of arms, between a rule-based order and a world of naked aggression”.
With the countries I visited, we are united in trying to stop the savage war in Ukraine. We must continue to work closely together to keep the Western Balkans calm, stable and set on the road to the EU” has ended Borrell.