After dinner, Borrell warns lunch Monday, invites six ministers of the Western Balkans as well

The future of the Western Balkans is within the European Union and that is a very strong reason to hold this” meeting, Borrell told reporters before dinner.

Leaders from Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will take part in events to discuss challenges for the region and the EU.

According to Borrell, Russia's war against Ukraine will dominate the agenda. Calling six locations “the closest partner” The EU's, he said, will focus on “s we can jointly address the consequences of war”. He also stressed that the EU and Western Balkan countries should act in co-ordination, because Russia tries to create divisions and “exploit our weaknesses”.

I welcome that most of our partners in the Western Balkans are fully compatible and since the first day, with the European Union's response to Russian aggression against Ukraine. And I urge others to do so. Discussions tonight will feed on continued engagement with the Western Balkans, which remains our strategic priority. It's our most important foreign policy. And we will remember that, once again, at the Foreign Affairs Council next Monday, we will have a full political discussion for the region. And this meeting today, this dinner today, will be the best way to prepare the discussion on the Foreign Affairs Council for me. And on this occasion, we will invite the foreign ministers of these countries to join our lunch [at the Council of Foreign Affairs].

Borrell promised to be a very sincere “” with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, making clear the EU position that “has no room for violating Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial unity and integrity”.