Declaration Adopted in Brussels: The Future of the Western Balkans Lies in the EU

It is important to state that EU enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability, and prosperity, and to note the new dynamics in the enlargement process and significant progress made since the last summit.

“It is in our mutual interest to accelerate the accession process based on credible reforms by partners, conditions and our own merits,” the declaration states.

The document also references the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, highlighting that agreements reached in this dialogue must be implemented, particularly the Agreement on the Path to Normalization and its annex. It notes that the absence of normalization of relations "hinders both partners".

The declaration stresses that reconciliation, inclusive regional cooperation, and good neighborly relations are at the core of the EU's values. It calls for the implementation of international agreements and emphasizes the need for "additional decisive efforts to foster reconciliation and regional stability, as well as to identify and implement definitive, inclusive, and binding solutions to regional and bilateral disputes and issues rooted in the legacy of the past, including remaining cases of missing persons and matters related to war crimes."

Support for Ukraine

In the context of a radical shift in the global geopolitical landscape, the war in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East, as well as the start of a new cycle of EU leadership, the declaration highlights that the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans is “more important than ever.”

“The geopolitical context in Europe requires all of us to be united and in solidarity in providing strong support for Ukraine and defending the rules-based international order. Alignment with the EU remains a clear indication of the strategic orientation of our Western Balkan partners,” the declaration states.

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