Greek Prime Minister: Western Balkans to integrate into EU by 2033

Greece's prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has proposed yesterday that Western Balkan countries integrate into the European Union by 2033.

Mitsotakis was speaking after a meeting with leaders from Southeast European countries in the Greek port city of Thessaloniki, the AP writes, broadcasts Klankosova.tv.

Also present was European Council President Charles Michel.

“I think the time has come to continue with more decisive steps for the integration of the Western Balkans into the European family by accepting, of course, that significant steps must be taken in advance for them to meet European standards”, Mitsotakis said.

But we need something more. We also need the active commitment of the European leadership and member states, that the process will accelerate,”, he added.

Mitsotakis gave his proposal until 2033, as a target date for all Western Balkan countries to enter the EU, as he named it a proposal “ambicious”, but that “ai can be realised if the idea of enlargement returns to the fundamental values of the union”.

We remember that yesterday German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as he launched his two-day tour of the Balkans, expressed support for the fastest integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union in the middle of the war in Ukraine.

The six Western Balkan countries are in various phases of their aspirations for EU membership.

Serbia and Montenegro have started full negotiations, while Albania and Northern Macedonia have faced delays in starting EU talks.

Kosovo and Bosnia are in the early stages of the membership process.

European leaders are expected to consider Ukraine's EU candidate status bid in late June.