Borell visits Tirana, Skopje this week

Initially, it will have meetings with the heads of governments of these two states, within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Council.

Meanwhile, on March 18th, he will organise the meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, within dialogue that facilitates the European bloc. EU sources say visits to Albania and Northern Macedonia were planned earlier, so the idea had also come up that after Borrell will visit the region in Ohrid, North Macedonia, the next meeting of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will take place.

According to a communique issued by the EU Foreign Action Service (EEAS), Borrell in Albania will remain on 15 March and 16 March, while in northern Macedonia on 16 March and 17 March. On March 18th, it will organise the new round of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Ohrid. “These visits will have an opportunity to analyse EU bilateral reports with Albania and Northern Macedonia under relevant Stabilisation and Association Agreements, as well as discuss recent developments in these states and in the Western Balkans”, this communiqué says.

Under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, there is also the Stabilisation and Association Council, where the EU and the associate country analyse developments under this agreement.

Usually all meetings of this Council are held in Brussels or Luxembourg. This is the first time such meetings are held in Tirana and Skopje.

During these visits, Borrell will also be accompanied by Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhely. Those in Tirana will meet with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, have meetings and with youth representatives while participating in the inauguration of the Venice Tower in Durres, whose restoration is financed by EU funds. In Skopje, Borrell will meet with Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, but also with President Stevo Pendarovski, and with a number of ministers of this country.

Northern Macedonia was the first state of the Western Balkan region to reach a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU since 2001. But it had to wait until 2022 to start EU membership negotiations. Last year, membership negotiations were also launched with Albania. It is expected that during visits to the Western Balkan region, Borrell and his hosts will also believe Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the consequences it has had for Europe and the region, and for the co-operation between the EU and these states to face these consequences.