Von der Leenen: We're willing to lift measures, but we need consensus.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyeen has said that Kosovo must overcome the challenges of moving towards membership in the European Union.

At the media conference after the EU Summit, the Western Balkans have stressed that even for the removal of measures towards Kosovo, the unanimousness of member states is needed, and that does not exist at the moment.

We are willing to remove the measures, but even here we need unanimity with member states, this is not being given at the moment. But we work hard to achieve it because I think it is really important for Kosovo to move forward. We as the Commission have made sure there is no money loss, that's important. Full support for Kosovo, but this is the process of expanding with challenges we need to overcome so that we can later ensure the unanimousness of moving forward”, it has stressed.

Von der Leyen has added that states aspiring membership in the European Union must prepare for membership responsibilities, and the EU, on the other hand, must be accommodated for a larger family.

We must rise to new reality. The new reality is that it is not enough just to leave the door open for aspiring members, but we need to be active and actively we have to contribute. We will continue to work on two priorities with our Western Balkan partners, one is accession to the EU, and the other is gradual integration into our common market”, she said at the media conference after the Western Balkans Summit.

While European Council President Antonio Costa has said that the Western Balkan states were in line with the joint declaration issued after the summit. He has suggested that the Western Balkans have the country in the EU.

There is no other region in the world where the EU has invested so many resources, financial, human and expertise. The EU is already the biggest economic partner and investor in the Western Balkans. It is and will remain the most stable partner in the future. We all know some challenges remain. Bilateral disputes and neighbourly dilemmas have yet to be addressed. We need to stay focused on loan and sustainable reforms, and accession will be made according to the” merits, Costa said.

Costa has added that the new moment “should be used to create the necessary conditions for enlargement, because there is no doubt that the future of the Western Balkans is in the EU”.