Pisonero: Balkan Growth Plan, Condition for Belgrade, Pristina Is Dialogue

The European Commission's spokeswoman for Justice and Enlargement, Ana Pisonero, said today, speaking of the Western Balkans' Growth Plan, that the European Commission expects all partners from the Western Balkans to finalise their reform agendas and that in the case of Belgrade and Pristina, one of the preconditions is a constructive co-operation under dialogue obligations.

When we get these reform agendas, we'll be able to evaluate them and adopt reform agendas, following consultation with member states. We are waiting for partners from the Western Balkans,” said at a press conference in Brussels, when asked by an Albanian journalist if the EU's special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, has made an assessment of the constructiveness of the two sides in the dialogue to determine whether they will benefit from the first set of payments from economic growth. Plan for the Western Balkans.

She added that “in the case of Kosovo and Serbia exists a precondition to co-operate constructively within obligations from dialogue”.

This will be monitored, but initially we expect the parties to submit their reform agenda”, said Pisonero.

Asked whether anything could be expected this month when it comes to the Western Balkans Growth Plan, she said it is “slightly difficult to predict” from the EU side.

We essentially expect all our partners to present their finalised reform agendas, and then this will have to be assessed on our part. We'll have consultations with member states. In the case of Kosovo and Serbia, there is a precondition general that they will have to engage constructively in normalising relations both sides risk losing significant opportunities in the absence of progress”, said Pisonero.

When it comes to appointing a new EU special envoy for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and other regional issues of the Western Balkans, European Commission for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy spokeswoman Nabila Masrali said a recommendation has been issued. to extend Miroslav Lajcak's mandate to that task for five months, which is January 31st 2025.

The decision for this will be made by the Council”, Masrali said.

On May 7th, the EU Council formally approved the establishment of the Instrument for Reform and Growth for the Western Balkans, which provides the region, including Serbia, with additional financial assistance of six billion euros in the period 2024-2027. /euronews. al