EU orders Western Balkans: Emergencyly normalize reports if you want profit from the 6 billion-euro package

The European Union ordered Western Balkan countries that there is no longer time to wait for the reports between them to normalise, but that this must be done soon, as a condition to take advantage of the economic growth plan approved by the European Commission on November 8th.

So said during a debate in Brussels dedicated The enlargement process organised by Europe's “Micts”.

The plan for economic growth for the Western Balkan countries envisions a large 6 billion-euro financial assistance package for the period from 2024 to 2027. According to the plan, from this amount, up to 2 billion euros would go as non-return assistance, while 4 billion in the form of favourable loans or capital investments. Part of these financial means could go through direct payments to the budgets of countries in the region to be used for these purposes.

Miroslav Lajcak, EU special envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, US Ambassador to Belgrade Christopher Hill, European Commission Enlargement General Director Jan Coopman and many other participants also participated in the debate.

Coopman said the EU's goal is to integrate as many countries of the region as possible even before becoming EU members, including integration into the European Union's internal market.

Ministers from several countries in the region also attended the meeting. They supported the idea of gradual integration before formal EU integration, but not seen as an alternative to membership.

To accomplish this, the region must overcome open problems. We cannot accept places which have poisoned reports”, Coopman said, citing open issues about borders.

These conditions, according to EU diplomats, concern first and foremost Kosovo, Serbia, which are involved in the process of dialogue facilitated by the European Union.

We will condition growth plan with normalisation of reports. This should make progress in this [pect]. We don't have time to wait” anymore, Copeman said. He said the value of tools from this plan is great and if states don't exploit them, citizens will be lost.

Czech European Affairs Minister Martin Dvorak recalled that there will be no possibility for any candidate country to avoid meeting the criteria in the EU's advance process.

While American Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill called for the EU to testify that this time the possibility of EU integration is real. He said Serbia is doing much in the reform process, as well as in helping Ukraine.

Serbia is doing a lot for Ukraine, but please don't make this big, because it wouldn't be in the interest of everyone in Serbia“, Hill said.