EU and Western Balkans to meet on November 25, Costa: Enlargement with the region is a priority and geopolitical investment

Brussels will host the leaders of the European Union and the Western Balkans on November 25 at a summit that will highlight the strategic weight of ties between the two sides.

According to Express, the EU will be represented at the meeting by the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

European Council President António Costa has stressed that the future of the Western Balkans is tied to the European Union. He has described the accession of the region’s countries as an EU priority and a shared goal, but also as an essential geopolitical investment in a turbulent period. According to him, the European Union is the region’s most reliable partner and will continue to be so.

At this meeting, the EU will have the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the accession perspective of the Western Balkan countries. At the same time, partners will be encouraged to accelerate decisive reforms and fulfill the necessary commitments to move forward toward the European Union.

Also on the discussion table will be the challenges the sides share, along with opportunities to strengthen security and resilience amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.

The leaders will also examine how much the Western Balkans’ gradual alignment with the EU has advanced, with special attention to the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Steps to further advance this process will also be part of the talks.